|
|
Post by featherleg on Oct 4, 2021 17:36:37 GMT -5
A small frown crossed Celestia’s face as he brought up his fear of life without his restraints. A short but distant look in her eyes reflected that same concern, one she had experienced, but no doubt could not weigh even a spark in comparison to what Rowlin was facing. Only theories and research could be used in his circumstance, and even then there was no way of knowing if any of that was applicable unless they experimented or tried a procedure directly on him. Brushing those thoughts away with a brief shake of her head, Celestia watched as Rowlin held the green tag aloft in the air, only to flinch and wince at the sudden outburst of energy that surged from his gauntlets. Well, there’s at least one answer to start with...She thought as she exchanged a look of ‘what now’ with Aika, only to turn her attention back to Rowlin with a perplexed gaze. The source himself? Why do I feel like this is another riddle coming back to haunt me? Or more so us, I suppose… Composing herself for whatever information he was about to give her, Celestia straightened herself, her right hand reaching out to accept the carefully bundled envelope as she listened to Rowlin. Her eyes flickered between the letter, observing it’s quality and dated but well kept style, and Rowlin, who perhap in his own ways could relate more to the letter in appearance alone. Now holding the letters in her hands, she made one final glance to Rowlin as he spoke of the urgency to collect this particular set of letters, and how there were more to be found. Just that...well, he wasn’t to open them. A thought to be further explored once she read this one, she agreed upon as she rounded her desk and sat in her chair, parallel to Rowlin as she carefully began to skim through the contexts of the envelope. “While the circumstances of you receiving this parcel are, frankly, odd at best, we’ll do what we can with whatever information is retained within it. That, at the very least, I can assure you.” Giving him a curt nod, she reached over to grab her reading glasses before delving into the letter. Her earlier frown returned as she read the top, plainly stating “My regrets”. As if the current situation they were in wasn’t foreboding enough. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The start of the letter caused Celestia's eyes to narrow. Citing the Hakuryuu circle directly felt like whoever wrote this letter knew that it would fall into that group's hands. Utmost certainty at that. Even the mention of ‘lady fate’ felt like they were speaking directly to her, as many people from her time and more specifically her clan would refer to a Lady of Fate or Fortune in conversation. Continuing on, the reference to S.Willow made her pause. Her fingertips lightly tapped in a soft ripple against her desk as she racked her brain, desperate to recall such a name and its relationship to the Hakuryuu family. And then there was that word that made her sit bolt right in her chair, her left hand that had been holding the side of the letter dropping subconsciously to the bottom of her ribcage, grasping it as if a deep pain had suddenly struck her. Solai. ‘Our people’....’served the Hakuryuu’...proudly? She could feel those arrows pierce her again as she repeated those words in her head. The blood and ichor that oozed from them, the screams they caused. The terror. Closing her eyes, Celestia breathed in deeply, eyes reopening as she braced herself for the rest of this writer's words. She made note that the rest of the aforementioned letters relating to this one would be out of order. If they were to find them, they would have to take care in organizing them. And then there was another brief cause. The acceptance that the Solai had in fact committed such atrocities. Horrors she had grown up knowing, learning, fearing. Eventually protecting others against. And yet...if she was to be understanding the writer's words correctly, a subsect existed among them? The Solej...they worked to correct the mistakes made by their brothers and sisters? She kept reading. There were more fears from the writer. That to which pertained to his brother. His...brother? Wait, no, first referred to as advisor. His brother, who was an advisor, had been restrained. Was restrained. Those restraints were expiring. Her eyes glanced at Rowlin. At his gauntlets. A moment of confirmation resonated in her eyes before she continued reading the letter, her facial expression growing dimmer by the second. He outlived them. Wasn’t expected to. The writer asked if they were searching for a solution. Why did it feel like this person wasn’t writing but speaking to her? Why did they have all the answers in an old, hidden letter that was stored in South America and only appearing now, when it was both convenient and awfully ill-timed. Contradictions. She could vent about them later. A request? She could almost laugh at the idea of conditions, seeing as though she just had to wrestle someone for them. But the writer was not that person. Consideration was in place. She was willing to put it forward. And then there were the names. Hers. Her husband. Her best friend. How...how would they have predicted they were still alive. She quickly looked over the letter, searching for a date. A sign of time. There wasn’t one to help her. Those that served in her inner circle knew of Aikas condition, this is true, but that was safeguarded information. And besides that, mine and Derrick's immorality didn’t happen until the later half of the war, and while in a different circumstance...how would they have known about it?Steeling herself once more, she pressed on. They must all be present. Provide a drop of sange. Hmm. She hadn’t heard or read blood to refer to such in quite some time. Then there was the change of writing. The tone had shifted. Her eyes moved at a faster rate as she read the writer's lament. How the restraints weren’t intended to be removed. How the thought alone sickened the writer. And yet...they still wished to help. Memories...suppressed...their life considered a horror to live? What exactly were the Solej hiding behind those restraints they placed on him? She reread the conditions of the ritual. Several times. The actions that needed to be considered. The consequences and aftermath of what they choose, of how they’d precede. The hand that held the paper slightly coiled as she read that this writer that was related to Rowlin requested that if they couldn’t follow such a heeding to end her students life. ‘I ask it be done painless or at most immediately’...what a cruel thing to ask. Reading through the ending made her stand up from her chair, the letters quickly pressed into her desk as she stood above them, her hands framing them as she read the writer’s name over and over again. Her lower lip trembled as she felt her face go pale before she whispered, “Rowlin, get my husband. Please. I need to discuss this letter with him in private.” Aika, who had been keeping her attention away from Celestia, wholly out of respect to give her some privacy, looked over to her in alarm before looking back at Rowlin. Silence fell upon them until Aika got out of her chair to stand beside him. “I, we….we should do as she says for now. We can figure out the rest about your restraints in due time, hm?” She gestured with a tilt of her head to Celestia, implying the amount of pressure she was under must be dire. If she wants to talk to Derrick alone, then she will.Auransky |
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Oct 4, 2021 18:40:17 GMT -5
Selena could feel her eyes rolling at his remark about her being a smart ass. Not like she was trying to reassure him earlier or anything only to be pushed back with doubt and Lucas’s older brother attitude. “Isn't it the job description of an apprentice to respect their teacher and not give them glib for trying and then meeting resistance from their so called ‘student’?” She asked as she stopped in her tracks and stared daggers at him before huffing in annoyance, her pace picking up as she walked towards the equipment. “Then you better start learning now or else I’m going to lose control of my temper with you.” She yelled over her shoulder before they started their training. Training, which lasted for hours. Starting with basic exercises, they focused on determining Lucas’s swiftness from what would be considered a normal, human standpoint into that of his vampiric abilities. From there, his strength and how well he would do under dire circumstances, such a part of a building collapsing or being faced with a brute that from appearance alone would beat someone of his stature with just a simple flick of their hand. Then there was a break prior to them studying the basics of fire bending. Seeing that Lucas probably wouldn’t actually pay much attention to the theory and reading of it, they simply went straight into the application and acted on it which...did result in a few pieces of equipment igniting and Selena having to freeze them to avoid setting the field ablaze. Or them. After a few more failed attempts and bursts of the two swearing at each other, Lucas had figured out (maybe for now by chance) how to start a small fire and maintain it without his sister having to use ice or water magic. For now, at least. --------------------------------- Taking in what she hoped to be an unnoticed breath, Anna bowed politely to Hannah as she acknowledged and greeted her, only to have her anxious mind ask her if she had already bowed earlier. Was that too formal? How many bows are you supposed to do within an exchange like this? Oh, right, the exchange. Ms. Grey said they were ready to go forward with their side. Now it’s your turn, Anna, Present the artifact, reinstate its purpose and use and how it retains their part of the deal. Simple as making cake. “The Den will then present to the officiate and the Courts associates the artifact they requested for this exchange.” Reaching into her coat pocket, Anna removed her hand to show a small, golden disc in her hand. Though hard to see from the other side of the table, a detailed and intricate design of ley lines were inscribed upon the surface of the disc. She placed it on the side of the box, where a slot for a circular object would fit. A soft glow of blue enveloped the leather crate, signaling the protective seal around it was being dispelled. After a moment's time, Anna removed the disc and opened the crate to reveal a staff of sorts, with three orbs floating around it while a fourth stood affixed at the top, larger than the other three with a skirt of silver holding it to the staff. Anna stood besides it, clearing her throat after allowing the Court some time to look upon the artifact prior to readdressing them. “This staff, known during its time as The Weaver of Hester, is an artifact capable through the use of attunement to bind in place various spells for extended durations of time. It was a turning point in a previous war during The Age of Polarity, in which a large barrier was made to protect the Second Court, Montaurac, and it’s cities from the attacks of those revolting against them. None of the fifteen cities or thirty towns scattered among the Court's outer perimeter were damaged and all of the citizens were saved from the onslaught that lasted for two weeks.” Finding herself going into a near lecture, Anna gestured towards the staff as she addressed Ms. Grey. “As the Den understands, the Sovereign of the Embrain Court wishes to obtain and safeguard this artifact for at least the next one hundred and fifty years to use it’s capabilities to enforce a barrier of sorts to allow mortals, magic borne, and vampires to meet on common and fair ground. Is that correct, Ms. Grey?” Misty |
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Oct 4, 2021 19:43:45 GMT -5
Perhaps it was old habits--workplace habits--that made Aika want to glare at him for such a remark. The notion of falling asleep with her boss would have made her berate him with a lecture if they were at work. She could already feel the sigh drawing into her throat as she looked over at him only to have it extinguished by the seriousness held in his eyes. Instead, a soft ‘oh’ escaped from her as he literally set her speechless. Since when was he capable of doing that to her? Now is not the time for daydreaming, Aika. She thought to herself as she glanced away, internally trying to ignore the rose like hue she knew was developing on her cheeks. “I-I’ll consider it. Or at least bring it to your attention if necessary--which I don’t see why it would be, but in case it does--”She cut herself off as she turned towards him, one hand holding onto the top of one of the chairs while the other covered her face in embarrassment. You’re seriously getting caught up over this? He’s just being polite. To you. While entertaining the idea of keeping you warm again. Shaking her head, she smiled sheepishly at him as her hand dropped to her side. “Sorry, it’s just, well, I don’t talk to others about it all that much. Never saw a reason to after I moved out since I was living alone. I’ve figured out how to better contro--I mean handle the chills by myself. Kind of had to, with the circumstances and all…” She trailed off, her gaze growing distant again as her smile dropped to a neutral stance. What circumstances they were in, indeed. Remembering who she was, leaving him and his family behind. A split down the line of returning to who she was and leaving who she wanted to be behind. She caught herself mid spiral, sighing at herself before returning her gaze to his, seemingly more composed than she was seconds prior. “It’s a kind and generous offer to make Dalton. If I’m in a bind like that again I’ll let you know. Just...if you wouldn’t mind keeping this between us? Please? I don’t like discussing my...condition with others often. It’s a bit of a sore spot, you know?” There was a soft plea in her eyes to him. While she didn’t mind sharing this part of her past with him, those “chills” when put under investigation by certain individuals would be damning for her. Hopefully he’d understand for now and see it from the perspective of her slowly opening up after being such a private person for the past few years. Rosestar |
|
|
|
Post by Rosestar on Oct 19, 2021 14:25:52 GMT -5
Perhaps it was old habits--workplace habits--that made Aika want to glare at him for such a remark. The notion of falling asleep with her boss would have made her berate him with a lecture if they were at work. She could already feel the sigh drawing into her throat as she looked over at him only to have it extinguished by the seriousness held in his eyes. Instead, a soft ‘oh’ escaped from her as he literally set her speechless. Since when was he capable of doing that to her? Now is not the time for daydreaming, Aika. She thought to herself as she glanced away, internally trying to ignore the rose like hue she knew was developing on her cheeks. “I-I’ll consider it. Or at least bring it to your attention if necessary--which I don’t see why it would be, but in case it does--”She cut herself off as she turned towards him, one hand holding onto the top of one of the chairs while the other covered her face in embarrassment. You’re seriously getting caught up over this? He’s just being polite. To you. While entertaining the idea of keeping you warm again. Shaking her head, she smiled sheepishly at him as her hand dropped to her side. “Sorry, it’s just, well, I don’t talk to others about it all that much. Never saw a reason to after I moved out since I was living alone. I’ve figured out how to better contro--I mean handle the chills by myself. Kind of had to, with the circumstances and all…” She trailed off, her gaze growing distant again as her smile dropped to a neutral stance. What circumstances they were in, indeed. Remembering who she was, leaving him and his family behind. A split down the line of returning to who she was and leaving who she wanted to be behind. She caught herself mid spiral, sighing at herself before returning her gaze to his, seemingly more composed than she was seconds prior. “It’s a kind and generous offer to make Dalton. If I’m in a bind like that again I’ll let you know. Just...if you wouldn’t mind keeping this between us? Please? I don’t like discussing my...condition with others often. It’s a bit of a sore spot, you know?” There was a soft plea in her eyes to him. While she didn’t mind sharing this part of her past with him, those “chills” when put under investigation by certain individuals would be damning for her. Hopefully he’d understand for now and see it from the perspective of her slowly opening up after being such a private person for the past few years. Rosestar There was quiet in the kitchen as Aika recomposed herself. There wasn't any more breakfast preparations to busy himself with, so he waited, using a hand to finger-brush his own hair into looking somewhat presentable. Not that it mattered. Everyone in the house had already witnessed Dalton being disheveled in one way or another. It was to keep his hands occupied. It wasn't great manners to reach out to someone in the middle of her asking for space.
Not that he was thinking of doing anything like that. Consciously, anyway...
Meanwhile, quiet footsteps were approaching the kitchen. James always took careful steps when there were guests over. Dalton didn't count, really, but there were two more to consider. The younger girls had been busying themselves with a project, and would be down in a few minutes, once they got sorted out. So James was heading back on his own, hardly a creak from the stairs as he traveled downward. Voices were murmuring in the kitchen. Tracker instincts kicking in, James slowed to a stop, his breath stilling in his throat. He couldn't exactly make out what Aika was saying- her voice was a soft plea. Dalton, whose voice was much more familiar to James after many begrudging years of listening, was easier to pick out. "Your secrets are my secrets, Aika."
James blinked from his position, the sincerity in his old friend's voice a mild shock. Since when did Aika share secrets with, well, anybody? He considered her a friend, of course, but that didn't make her any less private. Or so he had thought.
He heard movement upstairs as the girls stomped from their shared bedroom to the hallway bathroom. Certainly their conversation would end soon, if it hadn't already. All James could do was enter the kitchen with a sigh, and pray neither of them suspected his eavesdropping. Even if he wasn't a bad liar already, Dalton knew all his tells. And if he somehow had a hold over Aika now, he was becoming a better equipped team leader by the day. Like a ringmaster pulling the strings, the comparison flew into his head.
If there was trouble showing on his face, it could be explained away by the small herd of elephants upstairs. "Sorry about the wait. They'll arrive whenever they're ready. Breakfast smells great."
|
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Oct 24, 2021 18:29:25 GMT -5
Training, which kicked Lucas’ ass and showed Selena just how vastly out of shape he was. By the end of the session, he was soaked from head to toe in sweat and nearly out of breath despite all the breaks they had taken, and he couldn’t find a single muscle in his body that didn’t ache from the routine Selena had put him through today - and would continue to do so until they had no more time to prepare for the mission. It was going to be absolute hell tomorrow. And yet, there was a small chance tomorrow wouldn’t be quite so bad, if only for the fact that he had seemingly figured out how to start and maintain a small fire - though he fully expected tomorrow would go about as well as today did in all other aspects. Lucas did hoped the cool weather would hold up, as Selena had been right about it being better for the training. He couldn’t imagine trying to cool down from the workout in warmer weather. When he finally caught his breath, he asked “Why the hell would your Court workouts be so intense? Are they trying to train you or kill you?” ~~~ As Anna was speaking, a chill went up Hannah’s spine, and it was immediately followed by a dull pain at the base of her neck. She closed her eyes and counted to three, unwilling to appear rude to the knowledgeable young woman in front of her despite needing the exchange to quickly conclude. Most of her colleagues had, at this point, assumed she was more sensitive to the cold due to the sheer number of days she took off from work during the cold season, but she was unwilling to reveal it to those from the Den. “Yes, that is correct, Ms. Witson.” If their research tracked, The Weaver of Hester’s capabilities would transform the Embrian Court into a safe space for mortals, magic borne, and vampires to gather. “Now, the Embrian Court will present to the officiate and the Den’s associates the artifact they have requested for this exchange.” Hannah pulled a small, gunmetal-colored key out of her coat pocket. As she brought it near the wooden crate, a keyhole appeared, in which she inserted the key and turned it. Similar to what happened moments ago, the crate glowed with a soft blue light as its protective seal was dispelled. She removed the key and opened the crate to show a circular mirror with various designs etched in its gunmetal frame. “This mirror’s name roughly translates to the Disc of Specters, and it has been used in ritual casting to both locate and spy on various individuals. However, the caster must decide between seeing or hearing the individual on which they are spying. If everything looks to be in order, we are ready to complete the exchange.” And get the hell out of here. |
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Nov 9, 2021 20:42:02 GMT -5
(How is everyone?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosestar on Nov 11, 2021 22:36:55 GMT -5
(Hanging in there! How about you minted?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Nov 12, 2021 13:25:00 GMT -5
(Needing to have a burst of creativity by Sunday xD but otherwise good ^^)
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Nov 22, 2021 21:29:39 GMT -5
Oof.)
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 21, 2021 23:14:01 GMT -5
Boop
|
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Dec 22, 2021 11:18:12 GMT -5
(How go things for everyone?)
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 22, 2021 14:08:35 GMT -5
(Meh. Ups and downs. I'm really loving my new job, but at the same time mental health is shot. You?)
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Jan 8, 2022 22:23:07 GMT -5
Bumping for now.
|
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Jan 23, 2022 23:23:01 GMT -5
The noise of Lily and Nariko moving upstairs masked Aikas reply to all but Dalton as she smiled and nodded to him, her voice matching in sincerity as she simply said, “Thank you, Dalt.” Hearing him re-enter the room, Aika glanced over her shoulder at James, waving him off for his apology before settling into her seat. “Not a problem at all. Thanks for making it.” Motioning towards the breakfast they had worked on (with the partial help of Dalton), the three finally sat down together, respected drinks by their plates, before assembling their own breakfasts and enjoying the short quiet of a shared meal. Which, of course, was promptly disrupted by Lily and Nariko running into the kitchen and then straight to the table, eyes shimmering in joy at the large breakfast put in front of them. While Nariko briefly complained about not being able to sit next to Aika, her glares at a certain detective were halted as Lily grabbed her attention, remarking on an update of their favorite novel series getting a new addition. The rest of their breakfast went by smoothly, and after a bit of back and forth over who would clean the dishes, Aika was able to convince the girls to do so on a sudden promise proposed by Lily and Nariko that she would have to visit the North estate again some time in the future, which was hard to refuse with her two friends sitting next to her. After getting some general directions from Lily over her bathroom and which towels and spare clothes were available for guests to use, Aika excused herself to quickly shower. Shortly thereafter, she changed into a simple pair of denim jeans and a flowing, lavender toned tank top. Straightening her shirt, she looked over the bathroom countertop towards the small pill that laid there next to the glass of water she had brought up with her. Sighing to herself, she picked up both begrudgingly. While she was glad she remembered to store her ‘medicine’ in her bike in case of an emergency…she didn't expect this to be considered as such. At the same time, she couldn’t risk her suddenly having the urge to feed. Shaking her head, she quickly placed the pill in her mouth, drinking the water directly afterwards until none remained and she had swallowed the small capsule of substitute blood. Carefully placing the glass on the counter, she closed her eyes and gripped the sides of the counter space, counting down from the sixty seconds as she tried to slow her breathing. Not only did substitutes come with the side effect of withdrawal, they also had a low chance of triggering the urge to feed, or worse, hitting the play button for a vampire's abilities or features to become active. The window of which this low, thirty percent chance could take effect on the user was within the first minute of consuming the pill. So all Aika could do was wait and countdown the seconds, hoping, praying, that that thirty percent chance would not occur, alongside hoping that no one in the North estate would suddenly need to use this bathroom in particular, or perhaps slightly worse, coming looking for her specifically. Rosestar |
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 20, 2022 0:01:34 GMT -5
Boopers
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosestar on Mar 4, 2022 11:38:42 GMT -5
The noise of Lily and Nariko moving upstairs masked Aikas reply to all but Dalton as she smiled and nodded to him, her voice matching in sincerity as she simply said, “Thank you, Dalt.” Hearing him re-enter the room, Aika glanced over her shoulder at James, waving him off for his apology before settling into her seat. “Not a problem at all. Thanks for making it.” Motioning towards the breakfast they had worked on (with the partial help of Dalton), the three finally sat down together, respected drinks by their plates, before assembling their own breakfasts and enjoying the short quiet of a shared meal. Which, of course, was promptly disrupted by Lily and Nariko running into the kitchen and then straight to the table, eyes shimmering in joy at the large breakfast put in front of them. While Nariko briefly complained about not being able to sit next to Aika, her glares at a certain detective were halted as Lily grabbed her attention, remarking on an update of their favorite novel series getting a new addition. The rest of their breakfast went by smoothly, and after a bit of back and forth over who would clean the dishes, Aika was able to convince the girls to do so on a sudden promise proposed by Lily and Nariko that she would have to visit the North estate again some time in the future, which was hard to refuse with her two friends sitting next to her. After getting some general directions from Lily over her bathroom and which towels and spare clothes were available for guests to use, Aika excused herself to quickly shower. Shortly thereafter, she changed into a simple pair of denim jeans and a flowing, lavender toned tank top. Straightening her shirt, she looked over the bathroom countertop towards the small pill that laid there next to the glass of water she had brought up with her. Sighing to herself, she picked up both begrudgingly. While she was glad she remembered to store her ‘medicine’ in her bike in case of an emergency…she didn't expect this to be considered as such. At the same time, she couldn’t risk her suddenly having the urge to feed. Shaking her head, she quickly placed the pill in her mouth, drinking the water directly afterwards until none remained and she had swallowed the small capsule of substitute blood. Carefully placing the glass on the counter, she closed her eyes and gripped the sides of the counter space, counting down from the sixty seconds as she tried to slow her breathing. Not only did substitutes come with the side effect of withdrawal, they also had a low chance of triggering the urge to feed, or worse, hitting the play button for a vampire's abilities or features to become active. The window of which this low, thirty percent chance could take effect on the user was within the first minute of consuming the pill. So all Aika could do was wait and countdown the seconds, hoping, praying, that that thirty percent chance would not occur, alongside hoping that no one in the North estate would suddenly need to use this bathroom in particular, or perhaps slightly worse, coming looking for her specifically. Rosestar A much more eventful morning than James had anticipated, but it still wasn't over. He knew Lily and Nariko were delighted at playing host to Aika, but he wanted to make sure she had everything she may need. The teenagers were easily distracted, and though Aika was self sufficient, it was his duty to keep everything in order. Especially after- whatever it was he overheard this morning.
He got the general directions from Lily at which bathroom Aika had ended up in and waited until the water was off, signaling the end of her shower. James felt slightly creepy waiting outside the bathroom, trying to guess when Aika might be presentable and not wanting to interrupt her a second before. But she did seem to be taking a longer time than he thought she would. It wasn't like Aika was some teenager (not naming names here) wasting time on her phone. Maybe he was overthinking it, but James eventually knocked softly on the door anyway. "Everything okay in there?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Apr 3, 2022 0:25:24 GMT -5
(very invested in Aika and Dalton >:3)
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on May 2, 2022 22:36:06 GMT -5
boopers
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on May 31, 2022 21:22:40 GMT -5
bump
|
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Jun 14, 2022 14:43:12 GMT -5
While her brother was catching his breath from the training session, Selena began writing up a report of the progress they had made today. Separate sections were marked to record notes on his physical improvements through exercises such as endurance, speed, and strength while the other was for keeping track of his slow progress in learning how to use, maintain, and control his powers. This type of data-keeping was normal in both her previous position in the Embrain Court and her current role within the Wolves Den. While both served under different philosophies and ideas of how a society of magicborne and vampires should live in this world, one common trait they shared was assisting those that wanted to learn more about their powers. Thus, maintaining a catalog and record of such elements was necessary. “They’re designed this way to show you that you’re not the only one capable of having such prowess. Many newcomers assume that just because they ‘inherited’ new strengths or have been sent via a recommendation to train through the Court that they outclass others. That is simply not true.” Placing the notebook and pen in her lap, she looked over at Lucas as she continued, “While our methods may be blunt, they are honest. Honing a skill in any elemental or arcane field takes time, dedication, and respect for the nature of what you are harnessing. If a student cannot put in the effort to master the foundation of their craft, then they either have to learn the hard way or must reconsider what is driving them to learn the skills they are.” Realizing she was falling back into her technicalities of being a teacher and student herself, she relaxed her posture and began again. “The training isn’t meant to kill you, and it never will. Professors from the Court are trained to make sure that doesn’t happen. What we try to do is wake up whatever it is that is newly stirring in you and guide you through a path that, hopefully, will help in understanding the balance of having access to such power.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Perhaps it was Hannah's saving grace that Anna was so focused on her role and formalities of it that she didn’t notice the officiates change in demeanor in regards to the coldness that continued to seep into the room. Instead, her attention was drawn to examining the Disc of Specters. A checklist of criteria ran through her mind as her eyes shifted from one corner of the mirror to the next, making sure there were no inconsistencies between the description given to her by her employer and the small handful of books she had reviewed prior to the exchange about its appearance as well as the magical design of it. One of her associates gave her a small tap on her shoulder, giving her a small signal that more or less relayed to her that she has been zoning in too much and some amount of time had passed since Ms. Grey had asked her question. Straightening herself, she turned to Hannah and nodded to her. “Apologies for the wait. Everything is in order. We will proceed with resealing our cargo before handing it off to you and yours.” Not to waste time, Anna walked briskly back to the crate the laid around the Weaver of Hester and incited the spell to reseal it. Afterwards, the artifact and its key were brought over to the other side of the room, where Anna waited patiently for the Court officials to reseal their cargo. Only once both artifacts were secured could the officiates exchange the keys to them and properly end the exchange. Misty |
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Jun 14, 2022 14:57:41 GMT -5
The slow, methodic tapping of her finger against the bathroom sink counter to keep time for the passing of the medicine coursing through her was interrupted as James' voice called from the other side of the bathroom door. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she could see the dim hue of red centering around her pupil, which contrasted against her natural brown eyes. Holding back a curse, she tried to think of the best excuse that would allow either her more time in the room or that would cause James to think there was no cause for concern and simply go elsewhere. “Oh, yeah, sorry! I’m still on medication from Doctor Mori and didn’t want the girls to see. Injections and pills, you know how it can be.” Hopefully, the implication of how unnerving the process of having to maintain any form of post-surgery treatment in their field would give James to queue that she was best left alone until she was finished with her routine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sitting alone in the office of her team, Naomi was finalizing her notes that she been compiling since her last meeting with the rest of Phoenix. Despite being invited to the previous nights dinner at James’ house, she declined instead to have one peaceful night with her fiancé, Isabelle. Until this case was completely resolved, Naomi would be working around the clock to find any piece of evidence that would help the team successfully execute the mission laid out in front of them. Hence why she was one of the few souls that wandered into the VDA that Sunday morning. Tomorrow would likely be the start of their investigation properly, and while the rest of her team definitely needed rest, she had no such time or thought for it. Perhaps if she had known about Daltons short outburst of wanting to rush in to save the Cyra family she would joined in on the sentiment. After all, neither of them were patient people when it came to starting their work. She mulled over the thought as she arranged the photos she had gathered of the family members, frowning to herself as she did. Five children and their parents, swiftly taken against their will to a forsaken palace that the team had barely any knowledge of. Naomi had scouted their estate in Terra briefly to find the manor in a state of disarray that made her to decide to wait until Phoenix had regrouped before delving into it. She had, however, taken a handful of photos of the exterior of the estate in case anyone in her team wouldn’t believe the description she was going to deliver to them. Honestly, she probably wouldn’t believe herself either, but she could not refute what she had witnessed. Not in the slightest. Pulling back from the screen of the computer, she began typing up the following to send to Dalton: Update on the Cyra Family
I’ve finished my initial scouting and will be ready to brief you, James, and Aika tomorrow on my findings. Detective, I will be blunt. What I’ve found so far brings up more questions than it does answers. If we want to finish this mission with the mindset of saving as many family members as possible, we’ll need to work efficiently to do so. Please be prepared to make quick and thorough decisions.
As she was about to finish up her messages, an email popped up on her screen from Doctor Mori. Skimming through the contexts of it she paused before she continued to type her message. Assuming that either Aika or James contacted Doctor Mori sometime last week, you are being requested to have a medical examine be done tomorrow morning. The Doctor has stated that whatever results come from it will be confidential and kept between our team and herself. It seems as though even a high ranking agent such as herself is either wary of other parties or perhaps she has an inkling of what could be happening to you and wants to keep your reputation clean. Either way, the decision to undergo it is yours. Perhaps you should discuss this with the other two when you have a chance?
As always, if you require information before the meeting or have any questions feel free to contact me. I’ll be in the office until around 4pm.
-Naomi
Rosestar |
|
|
|
Post by Auransky on Jun 20, 2022 21:10:59 GMT -5
(I am gonna just slide this in now before I forget)
Derrik was relieved that the unwelcomed guest was gone, but things could have gotten worse. Either way, he closed the door and turned around only to jolt back at the sight of his youngest daughter. "Keep that up and you'll be a world class ninja" He chuckled, walking over towards her, to kneel down besides her. "Your mother will be out shortly, just give her some more time. She needs to get ready." He winked in a joking manner, "If you can keep all our guests busy in the other room, I'll take you out for double scoop ice-cream this weekend." He offered. Too be fair, he too had no idea how long the meeting would take-or need be taken but, one thing was for certain, Celestia and the others were not ready to leave the room. "I'll throw in a pretzel if you get some awesome reviews downstairs from the others."
|
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Jun 20, 2022 21:44:45 GMT -5
Viola’s puppy dog eyes quickly vanished as she smiled openly at her dad. Maybe she was sneakier than her brothers after all. Clasping her hands behind her as he spoke, she nodded along as her pout slowly began to return only to be dropped once the idea of ice cream was put on the table.
“R-Really?! You gotta pinky promise on the double scoop, okay? No take-backs either.” She held out her pinky with the utmost seriousness. One time Damian had promised her a triple scoop waffle only to get her a single scoop. With no toppings. Though her father and brother were very different, she couldn’t be tricked twice by the promise of ice cream.
“If I get five stars I’d like to get a pretzel and strawberry slices with it.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Auransky on Jul 22, 2022 17:57:01 GMT -5
Derrick smiled the entire time, watching his daughter with eagerness. She was quite a negotiator, and this both pleased and worried him- later life- but for now this was fine. "Okay!" He smiled and beamed with a clap. "Too scoops is doable." He reached out with his on pinky to seal the deal. "We can also stop by and get two pretzels with strawberry slices if you make it your best performance yet!" He further added to the bargaining table. Yes he was spoiling her, but it was his daughter and Viola was just one of his many awesome children that he cherished.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auransky on Aug 2, 2022 15:13:21 GMT -5
After Handing the Letters… Rowlin was a little nervous after handing the letters to his long term friends. It was strange- he expected himself to feel alleviated a little because he was reunited with close friends and yet somehow the reapers scythe slithered down his spine. He glimpsed down, not wanting to read the expressions of his friends’, they were good at hiding it but they’ve been long enough together to understand the difference between hiding and directly expressing. Just don’t look up- I don’t want to know… but I feel like I already know
He placed his hands on his knees, where his restraints were in full view- something he had grown to accept not by choice but also feared. Recalling Celestia’s time with restraints, and the dislike she had with them- he understood but she had a before and after life with them on. Himself? No- he couldn’t even recall having them off, it was like they were always there- always. But was there a time? A time when I didn’t have these on? Midday through Celestia’s Reading Rowlin had zoned out through the silence, lost in through to alone of the past, this package and the restraints. There was so much going on but why now? Furthermore- a new thought came to mind.. should he mention it now? A witch doctor which he encountered in the remote villages of Southest-Asia. Would that only dampen the situation further? I Should keep that to myself
After the letters have been read “-I-I” He quickly shifted to Celestia, “Y-Yes! R-Right away!” He quickly stood up then looked over to Aika who had hovered over. “Yes…” He now repeated in a lower tone, making his way for the door, but also kindly guiding Aika along-probably an old habit from long ago. After leaving the room Rowlin’s took in a sturdy breath to recompose himself but his thoughts had shaken him up- the silence didn’t help either. He noticed Derrick still standing by the Hallway and waving. “Excuse me Derrick.” He politely spoke up from behind. Derrick who had been waving to Viola, who had finally left turned his head behind to glance at the pair. “Oh- are we ready to go back yet?’ He asked but the silence - lack of composure from Rowlin, and the serious nature coming from Aika said otherwise. “N-Not exactly.” Rowlin shook his head. “Celestia would like to speak to you.” He further added. “O-Okay..” Derrick raised a brow. “Well-“ He looked over at Aika, “Shall we go back in-“ “Celestia would prefer it be you two alone..” Rowlin quickly added. Derrick nodded, and crossed his arms at the thought. Next he turned to address Aika, “Would you two like to join the dinner or wait in the other room down the hall? It’s my office, if you’d like to wait for all of us to eventually rejoin dinner.” But at this rate we are having leftovers. |
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Aug 10, 2022 20:44:58 GMT -5
“...I might have underestimated how intense the training might be.” The physical portion of the training hadn’t been too difficult for Lucas to keep up with, though he was certain he was going to be sore tomorrow morning. He couldn’t recall the last time he had pushed his body so hard. The portions related to his powers had been a much different story. “We don’t exactly have a lot of time for me to master my skills.” Nor was Lucas certain he wanted to go down that path. Learning to control his fire, he could handle. It was something he needed to do, at the very least so he wouldn’t accidentally burn someone. Regarding other magic... He wasn’t sure he wanted to go down that path. Selena herself was still learning to control at least one element. “And that comes in the form of training kicking our asses if we overestimate our abilities? Just to make sure we’re on the same page,” he teased. “Is the training the same as what you went through, or has it changed since then?” ~~~ As Anna turned her attention to the Disc of Specters, Hannah shifted her gaze to the Weaver of Hester. The artifact before her matched the physical descriptions from the various books she had read during her research process for the exchange. Its magical aura matched as well, though Hannah didn’t dare use her own magic to further examine the artifact. The pain at the base of her neck flared, as if responding to the idea of her using magic, but the woman gave no outward indication that anything was wrong. Dasco would be thrilled that the exchange had gone smoothly… so long as they could complete it. Hannah folded her hands in front of her body, not-so-patiently waiting for Anna to finish her examination. About damn time.“As will we.” Hannah returned to the crate in which the Disc of Specters was resting. She recited a few words as she brought the key close to the crate. The incantation wasn’t her own magic, so it didn’t further tax her body. With the artifact resealed, she stepped toward Anna as her associates prepared to take their cargo. featherleg |
|
|
|
Post by Misty on Sept 10, 2022 7:50:18 GMT -5
C:
|
|
|
|
Post by mintedstar/fur on Sept 14, 2022 13:20:55 GMT -5
:3
|
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Oct 7, 2022 22:51:11 GMT -5
(Apologies for the lack of replies, the fall semester has started once more and I've been really focused on my art. Hopefully I can get my responses out this month!)
|
|
|
|
Post by featherleg on Dec 2, 2022 23:38:51 GMT -5
As Aika turned to leave the study, with Rowlin politely guiding her, she exchanged a brief and wordless glance with Celestia. She could see the brewing storm of emotions only escalating in her friend's eyes and could only imagine and think of how many concerns ran through her head. How quickly a joyful and reuniting night had turned into one so deeply troubled. Standing almost at command at her desk now, Celestia simply gestured again for her and Rowlin to go. Closing the door lightly behind them, Aika lightly placed a hand on Rowlins shoulder, giving him a reassuring nod. Dropping her hand, she glanced past Derrick's form to see Viola waving at him cheerfully. Her attention returned back to Derrick as he addressed her. While her composure was still serious, she dawned the façade that her two advisors would know all too well–the look and stance that everything was under control. “I don’t mind joining everyone downstairs. Besides,” she smiled softly as she looked back to Viola, who caught her gaze this time, “ I would like to catch up with my niece and nephews. So take the time you need. We’ll keep the kids entertained, alright?” Auransky |
|
