sylvain is fascinated, as much as he is with the idea of elementals and star fragments, that there truly be cat people out there... (im so sorry leaks is just trying to exist)
he's glad of course that there hasn't been any serious incident, and despite his flippant demeanor he does take the scorch marks into serious consideration. ]
No wonder they fetch such a high price...
[ he's contemplating this aloud as much to himself as he is to the other restless. and then he simply shrugs. ]
Worth a shot, if they're that valuable.
[ here's where his usual brand of recklessness comes in. witness him, leaks! he starts wandering closer to the edge of the crater, eyes fixed on the elemental nearest to him. for once he's glad he doesn't have all his armor on him—he'd be roasting. ]
[ STOP it's just his ears... what's so special about them? they're black and fuzzy and probably lined to the brim with hatred and gay thoughts. those can coexist. they, just like the rest of him, are somewhat dismayed by the fact he couldn't approach without getting a few crackles of warning before being assaulted by a wave of what would certainly leave no trace of him behind if he were to be touched.
so the fact that this man, red hair and all, would actually try to approach? that's crazy my guy. ]
Be careful. I will not protect you if you get into trouble.
[ the elementals are watching carefully but certainly not aggressive. this is unfair against black cats btw. ]
[ why do we have hands? there are many reasons: pat the ears, hold the ears, cherish the ears, forfeit all—
anyway. sylvain's not entirely okay, but don't sweat it 😌 he's not fazed by leaks' warning either, and flashes an easy grin back at him ]
You're not the only one.
[ sorry for this gross bias against black cats, but sylvain manages to approach without aggro'ing the nearest knight. so far...
weird! (maybe being accidentally soulbonded helps his shadow behave? not single problematic peep over his shoulder.) sylvain turns to back to wave at leaks. and then resumes chatting up the elemental... it sounds like he may be trying to flatter the fiery little guy. negotiate some sort of deal. some kind of communication is happening...
eventually, he goes back to where leaks is. ]
Since I'm such a nice guy [ self-proclaimed ], I asked if I could grab a larger piece to split. But we'll both have to cough up a story full of knightly deeds for them.
[ if only leaks had people willing to do all of that, he'd honestly be okay with his ears being touched. it could be the last thing someone could do before he sacrifices them for a little more strength.
but yeah. there's a moment where leaks wonders if he should've intervened more forcibly than just using his words, but that concern (the tiniest little spark of one) immediately fades away once he realizes that sylvain isn't just another scorched mark on the ground. still whole. not screaming or on fire.
incredible. ]
I see... a story full of knightly deeds. [ repeating, as to make sure he heard sylvain right. ] I am no knight. I am merely a cat.
[ now sylvain is curious to ask what leaks means by that. can he transform into a cat-cat? or does he simply identify more as cat than human? please be more specific, nya? ]
Hmm. Have you read any books on knights before?
[ never said it had to be true stories... just heroic tales. sylvain crosses his arms over his chest as he contemplates alternative solutions (that is, fibbing). ]
Or known anyone who was larger-than-life? Maybe you could borrow a memory, dress it up a bit.
[ meanwhile, sylvain's previous day job was actually 'knight', but he's not sure fighting a losing war counts as 'heroic'... he'll have to remember something he read from one of ashe's books. ]
[ better to be seen as a cat than some kind of irredeemable monster that deserves nothing but horrible things done to him. in his heart of hearts, leaks knows how to be cruel. how to be selfish and possessive and hateful and hurtful. would any knight know those things?
he doesn't know. leaks, honorary nya-ight. ]
I have not. I suppose if you are looking for a story... I have one for you. It is about a cat with a crooked tail and cream colored ears.
[ and so he tells sylvain about this cat who was brave and stupid, foolish and naïve, but somehow able to best a magician tried to destroy their world by making everything reject the living through whatever means necessary. somehow, this other cat bested the most powerful mage in their world through love. ]
[ sylvain may be a knight, but he knows very well how to hurt others. the only difference is that he chooses not to. (if asked, he'd say most people were the same way.)
...that said, he is definitely the sort to fully immerse himself in a narrative, expression surprisingly reactive by the time leaks finishes. ]
A bad ending after all that? Talk about cruel...
[ he thinks this should work, though, for what's being asked. there's plenty of adventure, danger, and romance involved, if he's understanding correctly... (what kind of 'love' was this... enemy to lovers???) ]
What about the powerful mage? Did they renounce their ways? [ or did they lose their life? ]
[ sorry to sound like an emo teen, but that's just how it is. it's better to just assume everything is going to suck than the opposite. easier to believe the worst will happen rather than the best. he's never felt particularly blessed with 'good' luck. is that why black furred ribika are so cursed? the worst of the worst...
also this is more of a strangers to lovers to enemies to 'enemies' to who knows? leaks has experienced every type of relationship status you can find on facebook, tbh. ]
The mage disappeared. It is unknown where they have gone.
[ a faint smile crosses his face. ]
But I am sure that they have found their peace. Wherever it may be.
[ it's alright, and sylvain doesn't even disagree. life has never been particularly kind—not growing up in the harsh lands of faerghus, not through the war, either. ]
Ah... so the hero's ending is a tragic one, because he loved and he lost?
[ it does seem sad, to find someone against all odds, only to have it stolen away for good. sometimes it's worse to be the one left behind.
he nods thoughtfully at leak's assessment. (these facebook relationship statuses tho...) ]
...I suppose bittersweet endings are the most memorable. Though, I hope they can be reunited one day.
[ it may just be a 'story', and sylvain may be jaded af, but he's still a romantic somewhere deep down. ]
[ leaks hums. he tilts his head. his tail mimics this action, the tip still drooped beneath him, still mostly hidden by his robes. ]
I suppose you could say that. In a way, this figure could be considered heroic.
[ if leaks is smiling, it's clearly just a trick of the light. it's more of an upside down frown. a pensive look brought from memories, of thinking about being reunited, and how it would be a disaster. for both of them. ]
As I see it... if the hero were to be sent to the underworld, then he would not want anyone else to join him. So perhaps it is for the best that he isn't remembered, and that the story dies with him.
[ ...it seems like a tragic tale of self-sacrifice. sylvain hums quietly, expression thoughtful. he can't make much of leaks pokerface, doesn't know him nearly well enough to tell whether he's bluffing. (though he did suggest a story rooted in truth, and it seems to be what was provided. something that happened to an acquaintance, perhaps.)
there's no need to pry, even if sylvain is curious. he has what he needs to proceed. ]
...I see. I think it'll work.
[ with that, he turns back towards the elementals who don't seem to have really noticed, much less been bothered by his brief absence. he recounts leaks' story best he can, adding flourishes where he deems fit. (the living flames appear to flicker and glow with anticipation at certain times, easy cues for him to work off of.)
his own story takes on a much more different tone—not half as complex, but well-within the requested parameters. it's the narrative of the valiant loog, the first king of faerghus, and the rebellion he had instigated to liberate his people from the adrestian empire. ...a good half of it sylvain spins from his own memories of gronder field—not an experience he glorifies whatsoever, but easy enough to translate into a war epic for an audience.
...eventually, after much talking and gesticulating... he returns back to leaks with a particularly impressive star fragment, held with the blacksmith tongs. it's hot enough that the ambient heat is almost blistering against his knuckles, and he sets the object on a patch of dirt for them both to appraise. ]
Heheh, what did I say. Just gotta figure out if we wanna split it now, or later. You got anything that might help with that?
[ leaks cannot assume that everyone will be as stupid as some of the cats that he knew. some of them lacked wit. some, courage. some? just a brain. where could one go, could they have gone headfirst into a tree and it just plopped out of their ears? no--- there is unfortunately something about those who he has met (and will meet) that will prove that... he will be challenged by some of their intellect or courage or instinct. so.
he does watch sylvain seemingly tell the stories? both ears perked up, tail raised as high as it can. of course he's curious: leaks couldn't approach them without getting a blast of fire sent his direction, yet sylvain could without a problem. what does this mean? he will have to research why later. ]
How to split it. Do you think we can crack it with enough force? Or do we need to bring it back with us first...
Ah, they're a bit toasty, but they're fine. Thanks for asking.
[ the skin on his hands are a bit pink from the residual heat, but otherwise fine. he waggles a set of fingers at leaks to demonstrate.
as for their loot, ]
Hmm. We could certainly try. I'd rather not risk damaging the tongs [ he'll have to return them ], but maybe there's something else around here we can use.
[ e.g. they can pit this rock against another rock, see if the fragment breaks. (according to google, "Because meteorites do not contain quartz, the hardest common terrestrial mineral, they are not very hard. An ordinary chondrite can easily be smashed with a hammer"...!) ]
[ something they could use? leaks scans the area... the only things he finds are rocks. just tons of rocks. some of them larger than others, so perhaps that's the most appropriate improvised equipment they could handle.
but it shouldn't be him.
walking over and crouching down, leaks picks up what looks like the most usable one: just big enough for him to hold in one hand. it's warm. ]
Here. This stone should suffice, with the proper enchanting.
[ and he does just that. it doesn't take much of his energy, to imbue the rock with some additional stability. ]
[ probably because the situation has already passed, it doesn't occur to sylvain to put two and two together—magic-user, and magician...
he takes the rock in hand, peering at it curiously, but it just seems like a normal stone to him. he can't tell from a glance how its constitution has been changed. ]
Here goes—!
[ he's as careful as one can possibly be with limited options. thankfully, the star fragment splits evenly, as if to reward them for the team effort. he grins up at leaks. ]
[ doing small things like this doesn't exert a lot of energy or effort. imbuing items with more powerful enchantments and curses? probably not something he can do without some kind of consequence. but at the same time, being motivated with some kind of reward... that's fine. that's good.
he blinks a few times at sylvain, before staring at the rock pieces. ]
They are still quite dangerous, are they not? I do not think my magic is strong enough to completely render the pieces inert...
[ a gentle frown as he waves one of his hands over it. yep. he can feel it through the fabric. ]
[ he nods in affirmation, and takes a moment to consider leaks' abilities from what little that's been demonstrated... ]
You definitely don't want to handle it with bare hands. [ his pawpaws... sylvain's only got the one blacksmith tool, and they'll eventually need to part ways anyhow—so leaks will certainly require a vehicle of his own to transport the searing object around. ]
Could you try using your shirt [ (ooc chanting) strip! strip! ], and cast another spell on it so the fragment doesn't burn through the material?
[ if the mage can't render the pieces inert, perhaps he can at least fortify another object the same way he did their makeshift hammer...? ]
[ what the heck!!! his robes are like, too precious to use as an impromptu safety device. also they're probably flammable. also, leaks is not a very attractive ribika. he's pretty slim. very... twink. lean as heck. ]
Hm. I would rather try handling it directly.
[ with his gloves on, of course. maybe he can do a mixture of both? somehow suppress the heat through the fabric but also somehow try to extinguish the fragment? probably risky to do both, he's not entirely sure how much he can do without taxing himself.
still. for what it's worth, it's probably okay to try. ]
I will... do what I can.
[ maybe if he rubs some dirt on it, too. he'll try that. risky with his pawpaws, but after he's done casting the appropriate magic? it's certainly uncomfortable but as long as he keeps moving from paw to paw??? ]
[ seems a rather risky move—or a wholly confident one. sylvain has to wonder just how potent his magic was before turning up here. he watches somewhat apprehensively as leaks goes about applying the dirt to the fragment, trying to detect any visible signs of magic in his gloves. ...trying to withhold a grimace, too, when the ribika actually does pick up the piece in his hands. ]
Wow. I'm impressed. ...Maybe you can hide it somewhere until it cools down more?
[ WILL it cool down?? i have no idea but tis just a thought ]
No. The quicker we return, the quicker we can stop possessing what can be very... ah, painful.
[ as much as he wants to not touch it any longer, it's easier to play hot potato with the shard with himself. his magic is on his gloves and not so much the stone, meaning he should be okay... pacing himself, moving with a purpose. ]
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no subject
sylvain is fascinated, as much as he is with the idea of elementals and star fragments, that there truly be cat people out there... (im so sorry leaks is just trying to exist)
he's glad of course that there hasn't been any serious incident, and despite his flippant demeanor he does take the scorch marks into serious consideration. ]
No wonder they fetch such a high price...
[ he's contemplating this aloud as much to himself as he is to the other restless. and then he simply shrugs. ]
Worth a shot, if they're that valuable.
[ here's where his usual brand of recklessness comes in. witness him, leaks! he starts wandering closer to the edge of the crater, eyes fixed on the elemental nearest to him. for once he's glad he doesn't have all his armor on him—he'd be roasting. ]
no subject
so the fact that this man, red hair and all, would actually try to approach? that's crazy my guy. ]
Be careful. I will not protect you if you get into trouble.
[ the elementals are watching carefully but certainly not aggressive. this is unfair against black cats btw. ]
no subject
anyway. sylvain's not entirely okay, but don't sweat it 😌 he's not fazed by leaks' warning either, and flashes an easy grin back at him ]
You're not the only one.
[ sorry for this gross bias against black cats, but sylvain manages to approach without aggro'ing the nearest knight. so far...
weird! (maybe being accidentally soulbonded helps his shadow behave? not single problematic peep over his shoulder.) sylvain turns to back to wave at leaks. and then resumes chatting up the elemental... it sounds like he may be trying to flatter the fiery little guy. negotiate some sort of deal. some kind of communication is happening...
eventually, he goes back to where leaks is. ]
Since I'm such a nice guy [ self-proclaimed ], I asked if I could grab a larger piece to split. But we'll both have to cough up a story full of knightly deeds for them.
[ they still won't let leaks through, unforch. ]
no subject
but yeah. there's a moment where leaks wonders if he should've intervened more forcibly than just using his words, but that concern (the tiniest little spark of one) immediately fades away once he realizes that sylvain isn't just another scorched mark on the ground. still whole. not screaming or on fire.
incredible. ]
I see... a story full of knightly deeds. [ repeating, as to make sure he heard sylvain right. ] I am no knight. I am merely a cat.
[ you know, like. nya. ]
Nothing that I know could possibly suffice.
no subject
Hmm. Have you read any books on knights before?
[ never said it had to be true stories... just heroic tales. sylvain crosses his arms over his chest as he contemplates alternative solutions (that is, fibbing). ]
Or known anyone who was larger-than-life? Maybe you could borrow a memory, dress it up a bit.
[ meanwhile, sylvain's previous day job was actually 'knight', but he's not sure fighting a losing war counts as 'heroic'... he'll have to remember something he read from one of ashe's books. ]
no subject
he doesn't know. leaks, honorary nya-ight. ]
I have not. I suppose if you are looking for a story... I have one for you. It is about a cat with a crooked tail and cream colored ears.
[ and so he tells sylvain about this cat who was brave and stupid, foolish and naïve, but somehow able to best a magician tried to destroy their world by making everything reject the living through whatever means necessary. somehow, this other cat bested the most powerful mage in their world through love. ]
... though, his ending will be tragic too.
no subject
...that said, he is definitely the sort to fully immerse himself in a narrative, expression surprisingly reactive by the time leaks finishes. ]
A bad ending after all that? Talk about cruel...
[ he thinks this should work, though, for what's being asked. there's plenty of adventure, danger, and romance involved, if he's understanding correctly... (what kind of 'love' was this... enemy to lovers???) ]
What about the powerful mage? Did they renounce their ways? [ or did they lose their life? ]
no subject
[ sorry to sound like an emo teen, but that's just how it is. it's better to just assume everything is going to suck than the opposite. easier to believe the worst will happen rather than the best. he's never felt particularly blessed with 'good' luck. is that why black furred ribika are so cursed? the worst of the worst...
also this is more of a strangers to lovers to enemies to 'enemies' to who knows? leaks has experienced every type of relationship status you can find on facebook, tbh. ]
The mage disappeared. It is unknown where they have gone.
[ a faint smile crosses his face. ]
But I am sure that they have found their peace. Wherever it may be.
no subject
Ah... so the hero's ending is a tragic one, because he loved and he lost?
[ it does seem sad, to find someone against all odds, only to have it stolen away for good. sometimes it's worse to be the one left behind.
he nods thoughtfully at leak's assessment. (these facebook relationship statuses tho...) ]
...I suppose bittersweet endings are the most memorable. Though, I hope they can be reunited one day.
[ it may just be a 'story', and sylvain may be jaded af, but he's still a romantic somewhere deep down. ]
no subject
I suppose you could say that. In a way, this figure could be considered heroic.
[ if leaks is smiling, it's clearly just a trick of the light. it's more of an upside down frown. a pensive look brought from memories, of thinking about being reunited, and how it would be a disaster. for both of them. ]
As I see it... if the hero were to be sent to the underworld, then he would not want anyone else to join him. So perhaps it is for the best that he isn't remembered, and that the story dies with him.
[ a huff, then he leaks looks back at sylvain. ]
Do you think this story will suffice for them.
no subject
there's no need to pry, even if sylvain is curious. he has what he needs to proceed. ]
...I see. I think it'll work.
[ with that, he turns back towards the elementals who don't seem to have really noticed, much less been bothered by his brief absence. he recounts leaks' story best he can, adding flourishes where he deems fit. (the living flames appear to flicker and glow with anticipation at certain times, easy cues for him to work off of.)
his own story takes on a much more different tone—not half as complex, but well-within the requested parameters. it's the narrative of the valiant loog, the first king of faerghus, and the rebellion he had instigated to liberate his people from the adrestian empire. ...a good half of it sylvain spins from his own memories of gronder field—not an experience he glorifies whatsoever, but easy enough to translate into a war epic for an audience.
...eventually, after much talking and gesticulating... he returns back to leaks with a particularly impressive star fragment, held with the blacksmith tongs. it's hot enough that the ambient heat is almost blistering against his knuckles, and he sets the object on a patch of dirt for them both to appraise. ]
Heheh, what did I say. Just gotta figure out if we wanna split it now, or later. You got anything that might help with that?
no subject
he does watch sylvain seemingly tell the stories? both ears perked up, tail raised as high as it can. of course he's curious: leaks couldn't approach them without getting a blast of fire sent his direction, yet sylvain could without a problem. what does this mean? he will have to research why later. ]
How to split it. Do you think we can crack it with enough force? Or do we need to bring it back with us first...
[ leaks hums to himself. ]
... your hands. Are they okay?
no subject
[ the skin on his hands are a bit pink from the residual heat, but otherwise fine. he waggles a set of fingers at leaks to demonstrate.
as for their loot, ]
Hmm. We could certainly try. I'd rather not risk damaging the tongs [ he'll have to return them ], but maybe there's something else around here we can use.
[ e.g. they can pit this rock against another rock, see if the fragment breaks. (according to google, "Because meteorites do not contain quartz, the hardest common terrestrial mineral, they are not very hard. An ordinary chondrite can easily be smashed with a hammer"...!) ]
no subject
but it shouldn't be him.
walking over and crouching down, leaks picks up what looks like the most usable one: just big enough for him to hold in one hand. it's warm. ]
Here. This stone should suffice, with the proper enchanting.
[ and he does just that. it doesn't take much of his energy, to imbue the rock with some additional stability. ]
no subject
[ probably because the situation has already passed, it doesn't occur to sylvain to put two and two together—magic-user, and magician...
he takes the rock in hand, peering at it curiously, but it just seems like a normal stone to him. he can't tell from a glance how its constitution has been changed. ]
Here goes—!
[ he's as careful as one can possibly be with limited options. thankfully, the star fragment splits evenly, as if to reward them for the team effort. he grins up at leaks. ]
Well, whaddya know.
no subject
[ doing small things like this doesn't exert a lot of energy or effort. imbuing items with more powerful enchantments and curses? probably not something he can do without some kind of consequence. but at the same time, being motivated with some kind of reward... that's fine. that's good.
he blinks a few times at sylvain, before staring at the rock pieces. ]
They are still quite dangerous, are they not? I do not think my magic is strong enough to completely render the pieces inert...
[ a gentle frown as he waves one of his hands over it. yep. he can feel it through the fabric. ]
no subject
You definitely don't want to handle it with bare hands. [ his pawpaws... sylvain's only got the one blacksmith tool, and they'll eventually need to part ways anyhow—so leaks will certainly require a vehicle of his own to transport the searing object around. ]
Could you try using your shirt [ (ooc chanting) strip! strip! ], and cast another spell on it so the fragment doesn't burn through the material?
[ if the mage can't render the pieces inert, perhaps he can at least fortify another object the same way he did their makeshift hammer...? ]
no subject
Hm. I would rather try handling it directly.
[ with his gloves on, of course. maybe he can do a mixture of both? somehow suppress the heat through the fabric but also somehow try to extinguish the fragment? probably risky to do both, he's not entirely sure how much he can do without taxing himself.
still. for what it's worth, it's probably okay to try. ]
I will... do what I can.
[ maybe if he rubs some dirt on it, too. he'll try that. risky with his pawpaws, but after he's done casting the appropriate magic? it's certainly uncomfortable but as long as he keeps moving from paw to paw??? ]
Anything this hot could kill...
no subject
You sure about that...?
[ seems a rather risky move—or a wholly confident one. sylvain has to wonder just how potent his magic was before turning up here. he watches somewhat apprehensively as leaks goes about applying the dirt to the fragment, trying to detect any visible signs of magic in his gloves. ...trying to withhold a grimace, too, when the ribika actually does pick up the piece in his hands. ]
Wow. I'm impressed. ...Maybe you can hide it somewhere until it cools down more?
[ WILL it cool down?? i have no idea but tis just a thought ]
no subject
No. The quicker we return, the quicker we can stop possessing what can be very... ah, painful.
[ as much as he wants to not touch it any longer, it's easier to play hot potato with the shard with himself. his magic is on his gloves and not so much the stone, meaning he should be okay... pacing himself, moving with a purpose. ]
Do you think you can manage with your tool?