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Post by hoodwink on Sept 3, 2019 21:13:11 GMT -5
The Vagabond sighed in relief as Lucia’s sobbing slowly quieted. At the woman’s thanks and apology, the man merely shook his head, his shrouded gaze concerned yet somehow still awkward. He still wasn’t entirely used to these more intimate moments with people. ”Y-you don’t have to apologize…” Éirín’s sudden presence caused the hooded man to jolt in surprise. He’d been so focused on Lucia he hadn’t even sensed the presence approaching. Such relaxedness wasn’t like him. There was a new concern building in his heart, burdening his shoulders.
Staggering into view and slurring their words, the auburn haired woman who emerged seemed to be absolutely shwasted. I remember those phases… There had been a time shortly after his escape from that Realm where the vagrant had resorted to many different intoxicants for coping mechanisms. Though he didn’t know Éirín that well, or her situation, the Vagabond couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity in the sight before him. ”Anyhow, I doubt Mink will be done any time soon. Is there anywhere else you’d like to see?”
Lucia’s voice caught the Vagabond off guard, he tended to be lost in his inner monologues these days. ”Uh…” For a moment he faltered, recovering himself from the moment. Despite his foggy memories, his short term recollection was rather impeccable. Going through a mental list of the areas Lucia had described, the Vagabond made his selection at random, per usual. ”…Let’s check out the bridge—“ For a moment, he wondered if there’d be a more spacious presence there. He hadn’t really noticed it before, but the closeness of the walls around them were beginning to gnaw at his attention.
Maybe there’ll be some space… He knew it would be a while before he might see sky again.
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Post by Conrí on Sept 3, 2019 22:38:05 GMT -5
Aillil shuddered slightly when he noticed that particular look on Lews’s face. He also felt heat rise in his cheeks. He tried to smother the nerves, considering his desire was sure to be reaching the red haired man through their strange bond. He started to sit up in the bed, only to be pushed back down by a suddenly drunk Lews.
The cloaked man heard his own laughter echoing through the room, which met with Lews’s reaction to the situation. Aillil found himself laughing until his ribs hurt. Once he calmed down a bit, and wiped the tears from his eyes, he finally managed to think his way through the situation at hand. ”Well, it seems we both like spit fires when it comes to women. As for your payment, it’s been a while since I’ve laughed like that.” Quickly, Aillil waved his hand, and a weave settled on Lews that should have caused him to sober up. ”Old trick I learned back when trying to keep up with you back in the day. We probably should work this out with her and Tamara at some point though.”
The cloaked man waved his hand again, and his shirt disappeared, though he remained in his cloak. He smirked and winked at Lews while dangling the lafras on a thread of Air over his bare chest while he leaned back on the bed suggestively. ”Bet you can’t think fast enough to get your prize, Lews.” Aillil stuck his tongue out playfully after his taunt. He wondered what Lews would be feeling through the bond after his actions.
Éirín swayed slightly and tried to stay upright. ”Jen gave me somethin’ called a Bifrost. Pretty swirly colors with a red firedrop in the bottom.” She giggled uncontrollably. ”I’m sure that arseling’s going to have to come up with something new to our game when it’s my turn again.” She grinned mischievously and prepared to follow Lucia down the hall. "D'ya think I can drive?"
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Post by Ziya on Sept 4, 2019 18:58:36 GMT -5
Rand's mind blurred as he tried to remain conscious. Just as he was about to lose that fight he sensed a weave being placed on him, and a moment later the effects faded.
Sitting up, his smile was thankful. "Yes, that is definitely a talk that will need to happen. For now though, i would like to help you two get to know each other. I don't want either of you to feel left out."
He had no idea what would happen if they ever found the others. One step at a time, he supposed.
His smile turned to a bemused smirk at the location of the lafras, though a slight blush accompanied it at the lack of a shirt. "I see subtltey still isn't a specialty of yours. Although," he pulled himself forward rapidly as he reahed for the dumpling, resting on Ailill's chest after, "I've never really minded that."
Still smirking, he popped the dumpling in his mouth and winked.
Lucia couldn't help but gasp as Éirín named the drink Jen gave her. "Éirín, that drink has as much achohol as half bottle of whiskey. No wonder you're drunk!" There was a slight amount of awe in her words; even she could only handle one of those before starting to drift towards fully drunk.
As they walked toward the bridge she thought through the rest of the girl's words, putting a slightly stern edge on her voice. "So long as you are living with us and I am your Master there is a rule you will follow concerning alchohol. You will only drink it as a means to celebrate or relax, never as a coping for insecurities or a mask for negative emotions. Are we clear?"
As she finished they entered the bridge. It was about the size of the kitchen, made of textured steel, and three harnessed chairs dividing the rounded console into thirds. Countless switches and buttons dotted the console, though there were also three prominent sets of sticks, one at each seat. There were blast screens just above the console that were currently open, revealing colourful nebulae in the distance.
Once she walked to the center of the room she turned to the Vagabond with a more cheerful expression. "So, this is the bridge. There's screens that come up if we need to close the windows, but for the most part Aura pilots unless there's a serious fight."
The A.I.'s voice issued from the speakers, slight amusement evident. "That is correct. Also, I would prefer that you stay well away from the controls in your current state, User Éirín. We will be travelling through dangerous airspace that has already claimed this ship's original iteration once, and I would refer to survive the trip."
Lucia chuckled, but a shudder went through her at the memory of that incident.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 4, 2019 22:13:12 GMT -5
Lucia led the way down the hall as the Vagabond and Éirín followed. As the two women before him began to banter back and forth, the hooded man started to grow more at ease. Something about being able to drop into the background always comforted him. They’re voices are…soothing. At first, the man had felt everyone in this ship was ‘too bright’—but that wasn’t the case now. Instead, he felt as though their lights soothed him, providing a comfort he hadn’t known he lacked. As the trio entered the bridge, the hooded vagrant glanced around in awe at the machinery displayed around him. It’s—really like a scifi novel!! He had never seen anything like this.
Truthfully, the Vagabond had never set foot on a Gummiship before—but even if he had, he couldn’t help but get the feeling that not many would be as advanced as the one he found himself on. ”So, this is the bridge. The screens that come up if we need to close the windows, but for the most part Aura pilots unless there’s a serious fight.” His shrouded gaze fell on the multiple control modules that the bridge led to. There were countless switches, buttons and levers—none of which he recognized or knew. He was most likely the furthest thing from a pilot there was. ”That is correct.” Aura’s sudden voice caused the man’s head to jolt and gaze upwards. He still wasn’t used to the whole ‘AI’ thing.
”Also, I would prefer that you stay well away from the controls in your current state, user Éirín.” The sudden comment caused the Vagabond to glance over at the drunken woman, his shadowed face grinning as he chuckled to himself. Even the ‘AI’ is witty on this ship… For a moment, he wondered if he should feel shame at a machine’s ability to socialize exceeding his own—a humans. Er…wait— Could he even be considered a ‘human’ anymore? More like…a faint echo. For a moment, the man sighed to himself as Aura finished their warning. Wait—did they mention something about an ‘original iteration’?? Right. Other timelines. Whatever sort of series the protagonists he found himself with starred in surely must have been convoluted. For multiple timelines to be confirmed and delved into—wouldn’t a story like that get hard to navigate?
Shaking his head a bit to free himself from the thoughts—the Vagabond glanced at the controls once more as he looked around the room. ”So—no one even has to pilot it…” He couldn’t help but feel simple at being amazed by such a thing. Oh well. Being branded a ‘simpleton’ would be the least of his concerns. Turning towards Lucia, the Vagabond wondered what else this magnificent ship had to offer. Already he felt his earlier claustrophobia dissipating. ”Hey, Paladin—“ For a moment, he paused. He wasn’t used to his voice echoing like that. That’s what he sounded like? ”What’s your favorite place on the ship?”
He would have also asked Éirín—but to be honest, the Vagabond wasn’t really sure if the answer he’d get from her at present would even be true.
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Post by Conrí on Sept 5, 2019 2:52:39 GMT -5
Aillil looked at Lews and watched him quickly move over him and snatch the dumpling away from the thread of Air it dangled on. He noticed the blush on Lews's cheeks and felt the heat on his own cheeks intensify. He thought carefully about what was said about him and the wolf girl. "I don't mind getting to know her on her terms, Lews. I'm sure everything involved will work out, no matter how many of us there are."
The cloaked man instinctively jolted back slightly when he realised what he'd said, and he further realised what position they were in. "Mashi, Lews," he whispered softly.
Aillil then checked the bond between them and decided to lean forward instead of back and brushed his lips against the red haired man's. "I...I desire to be with you, raya chalidin am'ashaman. I know it's kind of faster than I'd normally...suggest, but, I've wanted for us to be like this for a long, long time."
Éirín groaned when Lucia mentioned how much alcohol was just in one of those drinks. She grinned a bit, then said, "Ah, I just downed my second one before deciding to walk around the ship instead of waiting around for Jen to reappear."
When the wolf girl heard the rule, she laughed a little. "You misunderstand. I'm neither moping or hiding an insecurity from myself. I did this as a prank. To see if it could be done. Rand and I have been bonded. I'm interested to see what he has to tell me about this little experiment."
The priestess looked Lucia in the eye for the next part, "Conrí is your pupil. I am Moiraine's and Éiriú's, regardless of what weapon I wield." The goddess turned at this point to address the ship. "No worries, I know better. It was a joke. I am aware of how drunk I am. Does your favorite part of the ship involve water, Lucia, because I could use a glass."
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Post by Ziya on Sept 6, 2019 13:06:28 GMT -5
Rand's blush intensified even as relief flooded though him. Ailill's words soothed his worries, though he still hoped that things would go so smoothly.
Finally his smirk retunred to a genuine smile at the touch of Ailill's lips. "Mashi, Ailill. I want to be with you too."
Shfting forward, he planted his lips on Ailill's, instinctively masking the bond with Éirín sightly.
Lucia looked at Éirín with a touch of respect and shock, though the obvious drunkedness still made her smirk. "Well consider me impressed! You could nearly keep up with me at that rate. Also, I understand and apologise, for both of my assumptions. Here," she reached into her pocket and pulled out a water bottle and dropped an Ether into it, "this should help."
Satisfied, she looked over to the Vagabond again. "Well, my favorite room is actually mine. You're welcome to see it if you like, but I'll understand if you want to go somewhere else instead."
Panting, Mink fell to their knees in the rubble of a ruined city before it faded back into the circuitry-lined cube of the simulation room. "I've got... to get stronger..."
After a few minutes to catch their breath, they started the simulation all over again.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 9, 2019 12:09:04 GMT -5
The Vagabond was curious about Éirín—who seemed to get totally smashed not out of some sort of escape from reality, but as a prank instead. Dangerous one…isn’t she? At the mention of a ‘bonding’, the hooded man tilted his head a bit in confusion. What did it mean, to be bonded to someone else? Though his own imagination could conjure a few ideas, none were truly slating the man’s curiosity. Watching as Lucia prepared an Ether into a bottle of water, the Vagabond wondered exactly what that would help with. Wasn’t Ether used to restore and revitalize people’s magical energy? Does that help against intoxication…? He had no idea. How much he was learning on this ship.
”Well, my favorite room is actually mine.” Lucia’s sudden address to him caught the man off guard, who had been occupied with his thoughts for the moment. Looking away from Éirín and back at Lucia, the vagrant nodded. ”Sure—if it’s your favorite, it’d be a lie to say I’m not curious…” With that, the hooded man nodded a bit, solidifying his choice. ”Alright, Paladin—lead the way!” Waiting to be ushered to the next location in the ship. For a moment, the Vagabond wondered how many rooms and hallways they had already traversed. Just how big is this thing? It hadn’t looked that massive from the outside…
Were all gummiships like this?
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Post by Conrí on Sept 9, 2019 16:44:36 GMT -5
Aillil felt a chill go down his spine when Lews reciprocated his declaration of love. He shuddered when their lips touched, still amazed by the feelings flooding him through the bond. He felt like fire was tumbling through his veins, and the cloaked man removed his cloak with a wave of his hand. He instinctively started to wrap his arms around Lews. When the kiss ended, Aillil found himself staring into those unchanging blue-grey eyes. He smiled slightly, then found himself looking a little lower than Lews's eyes.
"I feel like I'm fire right now, Lews." He let his feelings flow through the bond, all of it. His heart seemed to hammer in his chest. "That's how I feel about you, Lews, and, right now, I want to be yours completely, without hiding how I feel anymore. I doubt either of us is going to sleep much." Aillil winked and then immediately started to kiss Lews again, despite his skin starting to turn a deep shade of scarlet from his confession.
Éirín grinned when she noticed the look on Lucia's face. She laughed a little. "Don't worry about it. Drinking for fun and pranking people at the same time often happened back on Tir Tairngire. Should I just wait in your room or Jen's, or keep following you two around?"
The wolf girl nodded in appreciation as she took the bottle of water and started to drink it. Whatever else was in it was making her sober up quickly. She gave the Vagabond a small smile.
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Post by Ziya on Sept 11, 2019 11:23:47 GMT -5
Ailill's feelings flowing through the bond nearly stunned Rand. He had known that his feelings ran deep, but this...
"Now I know what they meant." He spoke between kisses, not wanting to pause long enough to say it all at once. "It really does feel like veins of gold..."
He doubted they'd get much sleep ether.
Lucia couldn't help but roll her eyes and giggle at the title the Vagabond continued to use for her as she motioned for them to follow her. "You know I'm not actually a Paladin, right? I was never accepted into them like my mom, and I don't even have a patron deity. Just Lucia is fine, please."
They went from the bridge down the hallway and into the circular hub that every other hallway connected to. Without pausing she turned into the left hall, walking until it ended in a single door that she opened.
Within the room was somehow larger than it should have been, easily thirteen feet to a side, and featured a darker gray plush carpet rather than the hardwood of the hallway. Every inch of the walls was either a shelf, cabinet, or drawer, with half of the left wall devoted to a large collection of fantasy and science fiction novels. A queen size bed sat against the back wall, complete with grey sheets and a comforter that matched the hull of the ship.
On a shelf above the bed was a beat up licence plate and an old photo of two adults standing proudly behind three teenagers, two of which were recognizable as slightly younger versions of Jennifer and Jason. The third was tall with a square face and short, spiked golden blond hair. The eyes were a grey-blue, but something about them would seem familiar to the Vagabond if he looked closely.
Without thinking Lucia started to pull her shirt over her head as she walked over to the drawers on the right, clearly intending to change. "Feel free to check out anything that catches your eye." The shirt finally came off, tossed in the hamper in the corner as she started on her pants. "Oh, Éirín. If you weren't intending on being my Apprentice then why did you call me Master on our way to the Castle?"
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 12, 2019 10:21:11 GMT -5
At Éirín’s smile, the Vagabond hastily returned one of his own, forgetting that his hood shrouded his features in darkness. Realizing the wolf girl wouldn’t see his affirmation, the man quickly nodded, lifting a hand in a quick ‘peace’ sign before Lucia’s voice jolted his attention. ”You know I’m not actually a Paladin, right?” The sudden question caught the Vagabond off guard. S-she’s not?! He was surprised. She seemed the very picture of a Paladin—what with her long blonde hair, proper posture and (when she chose to equip it) her armor and everything.
Man…here I thought I had a knack for pegging down people... Oh well. Can’t win ‘em all. ”I was never accepted into them like my mom, and I don’t even have a patron deity. Just Lucia is fine, please.” At the last comment, the vagrant nodded, though he silently reveled at knowing her mother was a real Paladin. I wasn’t that far off then! Following Lucia through the bridge and into a hallway, the Vagabond turned to Éirín, noticing how she seemed to be in better shape after having drank the water and ether.
”I’m glad you’re recovering so quickly—“ The Vagabond spoke to the wolf girl as they followed Lucia to her room. They had finally reached the door, which Lucia opened to display a surprisingly spacious room. ”A moment ago you seemed completely different…” Almost absent-mindedly, the hooded man lifted a hand, pointing at the girls’ wolf ears. ”Is it because of—“ Before he could ask his question, Lucia began to change boldly in front of them. For a moment, the Vagabond merely blinked from beneath his hood before registering what was happening.
”Er—!!” Thankfully the man’s face was shrouded in darkness, as it was a deep beat red at the moment. ”Feel free to check out anything that catches your eye.” At Lucia’s comment, the Vagabond finally threw up his arms, turning his hooded head away from the woman and instead towards the shelf on the bed—in order to look at anything else. ”Don’t say stuff like that while changing—!!” Why was he shouting? Thump! Thump! Thump! Why was his heart racing like this? Though a broken man with fragmented memories and a ruined heart—it seemed the Vagabond could still feel embarrassment about certain things.
That last comment was just a little too posed for the scene, though! Sighing a bit as he recovered himself, the Vagabond noticed the picture on the shelf above Lucia’s bed. Truthfully, he had found it in his desperate attempt to simply look away from the changing woman before him, but for a moment his dull eyes stayed transfixed for another reason. Who’s that…? He was staring at a man in the photo, with golden blond hair and grey-blue eyes. They seemed...familiar, for some reason. ”Oh, Éirín. If you weren’t intending on being my Apprentice then why did you call me Master on our way to the Castle?”
It seemed Lucia was changing the topic, as well as her clothes. Remaining turned away from both girls, the Vagabond sighed a bit as he rested a hand on his chest. His heartbeat seemed to be returning to normal—so that was good. For a moment the man shook his head, deep in thought. Geez…am I really that outdated with my interactions, or is Lucia really this type of character?!
It was a puzzling thought indeed.
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Post by Conrí on Sept 12, 2019 13:21:20 GMT -5
Aillil grinned when he felt the near shudder through the bond. Then, suddenly, Lews started kissing him. Whatever happened through the bond seemed to get through to the red-haired man completely. Aillil drew back slightly and chuckled when he heard Lews's murmurs. "Maybe to you it looks like that, but, if I recall, I was the one holding the Pattern together and allowing you to remove yourself from ever being the Dragon again." He playfully stuck his tongue out at Lews.
He then promptly pulled Lews closer to him and winked while he deepened his kiss and started rubbing the red-haired man's shoulders. He a break from his kiss to speak. "Ye tashi, raya chalidin. Dyumi sora ye mashi asa, aada'don an cuebiyar." Aillil then lowered himself to the bed and pulled Lews along with him, giving him a familiar smirk that showed his true intentions. With a wave of his hand, he turned off the light and pulled a blanket over them.
Éirín finished the bottle of water and suddenly felt better, so she wondered what was in the water in the first place, but, she shrugged it off. The wolf girl found Lucia's room to be comforting, in a way. She also wasn't disturbed by the woman's actions, though she smirked and started laughing lightly when she noticed how embarrassed the Vagabond was. "You were about to ask me something, weren't you?"
The priestess did give Lucia a look when she remembered the incident that the woman was talking about. She shrugged. "Keyblade Master is your occupation, so Master Lucia seemed appropriate at the time."
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Post by Ziya on Sept 12, 2019 23:38:13 GMT -5
It took Lucia a moment to realise why the Vagabond was reacting the way he was, by which point she was nearly finished undoing her slightly lacy lavender bra. "Oops," she apologized while rubbing the back of her head sheepishly through her purple hair, "sorry. I always forget that most worlds have a nudity taboo since ours didn't."
She closed her eyes for a moment, then waved her hand. Soft light issued from it, creating a barrier blocking view of anything from her neck down. Satisfied, she resumed changing, the barrier moving with her.
"That makes sense, Éirín. Just call me Lucia from now on though, okay? We're friends, after all." Opening a drawer, she pulled out a matching set of bright blue underwear and bra before she remembered what the Vagabond had been looking at before his embarrassment. "Oh, that's a picture of Jen, Jason, my parents, and me at my coming of age party."
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 14, 2019 0:10:25 GMT -5
”Sorry. I always forget that most worlds have a nudity taboo, since ours didn’t.” Taboo. That was a word he hadn’t heard in a while. Sighing in relief as Lucia formed a barrier that blocked her body from view, the hooded man shook his head, bowing a little while keeping his arms at his sides. ”Er—n-no—! My apologies!” His tone suggested genuine guilt. The Vagabond had been to countless other worlds, but his own inexperience seemed to constantly rear its ugly head. Here he was, on this persons own ship, enforcing his own habits and behaviors onto them. Disgraceful, really. What a pathetic guy. ”I…didn’t mean to force anything…” Though the man raised from his bow, his head hung a little lower than usual. Whatever he said, it couldn’t change what’d been done.
For a moment, the Vagabond felt defeat.
He couldn’t bring himself to sigh a second time.
Éirín’s laugh broke him out of his misery. It seemed at the least he could provide comic relief. Have I really been demoted to such a character? That’d be almost worse than his current pseudo existence. ”You were about to ask me something, weren’t you?” Looking back at the wolf girl, he nodded, pointing towards the ears on the top of her head. ”Oh—I was going to ask if you have faster recovery.” He had nearly forgotten. Phew. Maybe he could provide more than comic relief, after all! He hadn’t lost the ability to hold a conversation—yet.
It was then the Vagabond heard Lucia’s comment of the picture, glancing back at the photo on the shelf. ”Coming…of age…party?” Hadn’t he heard of something like that before? For a moment, the man crossed his arms in thought, his hooded head pointing down towards the floor. How old am I? Truthfully the question hadn’t once entered his head in ages. Time was irrelevant to him, after that place. There, time hardly remained as a shadow. Shaking the thoughts off, the Vagabond glanced again at the photo. It was the tangible thing in front of him, reminding him of how much people changed over the years, that had brought on the train of thought. Wanting to avoid any further self-loathing, the Vagabond turned away from the photo, looking back to Lucia and Éirín silently. He was curious about the two in front of him, and the others on the ship. It was finding the right words that was difficult.
”So—Éirín, you’re a ‘Keyblade Wielder’ too?” Changing his focus on the questions brimming around more practical matters, the Vagabond decided to focus on one of the many inquiries he was gaining. It wasn't the first time he had heard of the weapon. Never had he delved into researching it, though, or even learning about it. Frankly, his obsession had made him neglect studying about many other things, since his return. Looking at both Éirín and Lucia, the man tilted his head a bit, opening his question to the room. ”Er…what exactly is a Keyblade?” For the life of him, he couldn’t remember anything about it. He had known someone with one...right? Or was that memory false? His mind was becoming his own worst obstacle, really. Perhaps it plays a more important role than I thought…
It wouldn’t be the first time he overlooked something.
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Post by Conrí on Sept 14, 2019 1:55:28 GMT -5
Éirín contemplated the Vagabond's first question. She wondered why he was insistent on pointing at her ears, then remembered herself. "It's obvious that there was something in the water. It smelled off. Also, where I come from, it's common to drink whiskey the moment you come of age. Normally, for us, it's around fifteen."
The wolf girl smiled and nodded to Lucia. "Of course we are friends, and I'm glad that you finally found yourself, judging from the picture." The priestess tapped her chin thoughtfully, trying to figure out a way to answer the Vagabond's question. "What I wield seems to be a Keyblade, yes, though that is not what our people's legends considered it." She hoped that would satisfy the man's curiosity.
Conrí stroked Jason's cheek gently. He took a moment to gaze into his love's eyes. "I like getting into shenanigans with you. I'm sorry it ended so quickly, though. Maybe we can try for an all nighter tomorrow night?" He winked and smirked when he finished speaking. The wolf boy instinctively started to snuggle closer to the man he loved.
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Post by Ziya on Sept 28, 2019 23:15:22 GMT -5
"Thanks, Éirin. It certainly took me long enough!" Smiling, Lucia continued to dress as she addressed the Vagabond again. "No, you didn't force anything. I just forget sometimes, especially since I have a lot more that counts toward that now that I'm in the right body."
She paused for a moment to pull on a pair of leggings, then shifted her topic. "Keyblades are mythical weapons that are tied to the hearts of those that can wield them. They can be passed from a Master to another, made from a fragment of a person's soul infused into something important to the person, or a specific keyblade can independently choose a person. They are the only thing that can free the heart of a Heartless, can open or close any lock, and can be summoned or unsummoned at will."
Now clothed, she dropped the censoring light and summoned Requiem's Resolve as a demonstration. "Keyblades can also have up to two transformations that can change their form and powers, but I'd rather not show those off here."
Smiling, Jason pressed his cheek into Conrí's touch. Sighing contentedly, he shifted to allow his love to hold him closer and do the same. "Even with eternity ahead, I'm happy with every second I share with you. But yeah, I like that idea." Smiling even more, he squeezed slightly as he felt himself begin to drift off.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 30, 2019 10:22:50 GMT -5
Hearing Éirín’s explanation, the hooded vagrant nodded as he thought over the item used in the water. I suppose I could always branch out from potions… Healing was always the most practical—that, and the Vagabond didn’t really have any Munny to his name. It was only thanks to his acquaintance on Radiant Garden and the Bottle Deposit Policy that allowed him to keep a meager stock of items at all. ”What I wield seems to be called a Keyblade, yes, though that is not what our people’s legends considered it.” The explanation on the weapon was in itself rather vague—all she had done was manage to assert the label, but even that she had begun to peel off and construe with the explanation.
So…it’s name doesn’t really matter? In a way, he was relieved. He didn’t enjoy remembering names—not because of any deep meaning, simply due to how jumbled the man’s memories seemed to be. Whatever it is…it has legends on multiple worlds. This wasn’t the first time he had heard the mention. Countless worlds he had visited had either mentioned or revealed the oddly shaped weapon. Granted, before recently, the Vagabond had only ever known one person to wield such a bizarre sword. What was her name…? He could remember her fiery personality, a confidence that he truly found more scary than reassuring—but he couldn’t remember anything else about her.
What did she even look like? For a moment, a pang of loneliness shot through the man. How many more people would he forget? ”Keyblades are mythical weapons that are tied to the hearts of those that can wield them.” Lucia’s explanation brought the man back to the present moment—providing the kind of substance he was seeking. As the paladin explained the mysterious weapon, a specific part of the explanation caught his ears. They can free the heart of a Heartless!? Everything after that was lost on the Vagabond. For a moment, a faint ringing had entered his ears—all he could hear was the thump! thump! thump! of his heart.
Something within him stirred—a mixture of agony, longing, and something he hadn’t felt in years—hope. Staggering back a step, the hooded man raised his gloved hand, pointing at the woman before him with earnest. ”W-wait! Your Keyblades—they can really free hearts?!” What was this feeling, overcoming him? It wasn’t the darkness stirring, he was all too familiar with that sensation—but it was one he hadn’t remembered feeling since his new life. Suddenly, the hand fell as the man stayed stiff—his expression shrouded in the darkness of his hood, remaining anonymous.
”H-how?” Had the answer really been in front of him the whole time? In overlooking a tool like a weapon, something he had no interest in, had he forced himself into this pseudo existence? If they can really free hearts… Could he recover what was taken from him? The gloved hand reached up, grabbing at his chest as his shrouded gaze fell on what he knew lay beneath.
Could he finally free the heart he had been keeping safe all this time?
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Post by Conrí on Oct 1, 2019 21:56:37 GMT -5
Éirín listened to Lucia and the Vagabond talk. She found herself wondering about the Spear of Avalon slightly, but was also thinking about Rand a bit more than she meant to. Given the look he'd had on his face whenever he so much as glanced at Aillil, she could wager a guess as to what they were likely doing.
The wolf girl yawned suddenly. The day seemed to have gotten to her more than she'd expected. She found herself wandering over to the swivel chair at the desk and sitting in it, until she curled herself up into a ball and tried not to close her eyes too tightly.
Conrí smiled slightly when Jason's cheek pressed in a bit further into his hand. He snuggled a bit closer to his lover and exhaled contentedly. He closed his eyes and started to find sleep. He tried to hold Jason a little tighter, simply because he found himself thinking that he couldn't let go of the man or his feelings for him, nor did he ever want to.
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Post by Ziya on Oct 2, 2019 1:12:11 GMT -5
Lucia smiled at Éirín before turning back to the Vagabond to clarify. "Only hearts that have fallen to the Heartless, as far as I know." She frowned in thought before mentioning something else. "Although, there is that odd 'power of waking' thing I've heard about. That only works on 'sleeping' hearts though, whatever that means."
She was lost in thought for a moment, then abruptly blinked several times as she realized what he was doing. She connected the dots quickly, shifting from being thoughtful to problem-solver mode in an instant. "You're hoping that I can free that heart inside you, right? We won't be able to do anything about that until after we get back, but once we do Jason, Jen, and I will be happy to help you two get them a body and get them into it. It'll take some work though, since we'd be making a body from scratch."
She paused, then posed a question. "Do you remember what they looked like? It'll be easier to do this if we know that."
Mink looked around the rubble from the ground where they lay, too exhausted to even pant. A Novashadow hovered near them menacingly, only to vanish a moment later as a row of crystals skewered it. Shattered Sunset vanished a moment later as Mink's energy fell below what was needed to keep it summoned, and to keep them conscious.
As they passed out, Aura ended the simulation, replacing it with a bed to cradle them as she made sure the door was open as well. She may be an A.I., but that didn't stop her from caring about the green-haired youth. They were her creator, after all.
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Post by hoodwink on Oct 2, 2019 19:22:05 GMT -5
Thump! Thump! Thump! The Vagabond was seized by the beating of his own heart, his grip clenching against the jacket over his chest. For a moment, the room seemed to spin, causing him to take another step back before recovering his balance. ”Only hearts that have fallen to the Heartless, as far as I know.” The correction made the hooded man’s head jolt upright, looking over at Lucia. ”Although, there is that odd ‘power of waking’ thing I’ve heard about. That only works on ‘sleeping’ hearts though, whatever that means.” So, it seemed the answer wasn’t as straightforward as he had assumed. That wasn’t the worst damper on his plans, though. Was the heart residing within him 'fallen', or 'sleeping'? How could someone tell the difference? What was the difference? It seemed even Lucia wasn't quite sure.
Recovering himself, the Vagabond straightened his posture as Lucia continued to explain. It seemed that though the task ahead was difficult, the group he had stumbled upon did have the technology to create a body to house a freed heart. I-it’s really possible… The Vagabond was bewildered. How long had he been seeking such power? ”Do you remember what they looked like?” The sudden question pulled the man from his mind’s grip. ”It’ll be easier to do this if we know that.” For a moment, the Vagabond was silent as his hooded head lowered to gaze at the floor.
Deep in thought, the man closed his shrouded eyes and attempted to search his mind for any memory. ”No." His lips felt dry. "Barely even a name.” His tone was hollow—a sad realization had hit him. For so long he had worked toward the goal of freeing the heart residing within him—but he had no recollection of who’s heart it even was anymore. Perhaps there had been some time where he had...but who knew how long or short ago that was. After two years in that place, two visits to Castle Oblivion, as well as the other castle—the Vagabond’s mind and heart were sundered to a point beyond acknowledgement.
He had no idea truly how fractured he was.
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Post by Conrí on Oct 3, 2019 13:36:40 GMT -5
Éirín felt her head nod forward slightly, then forced herself awake a bit more by shifting her position on the chair. She didn't really want to be intrusive by listening in, so she tried to think of something to do. The wolf girl wished she could get in touch with Moiraine again, and then an idea occurred to her. The priestess easily assumed the Void, and let herself settle into that state further, until she found herself awake while feeling she dreamed instead.
In this state, the goddess sent her thoughts out to Moiraine as loudly as she could while embracing saidar. She tried to go through the basic exercises and weaves the strange lady had taught her. She also spent her time in the strange state practising holding as much as she could without weaving and slowly backing down to as little as she could hold before slowly increasing the amount of saidar to its maximum again. It made sense for her to work this ability like she had with her other abilities, but, she was trying to be kind to herself with this process.
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