[Hope you weren't doing anything finicky in the kitchen, Nero, because Alisaie's banging in like a wrecking ball, the bag all of them were originally given slung over her shoulders as she beelines for the cabinets.
She at least notices him before she's gone too far.]
I don't suppose you know what's happened to all the salt? [LOOKING SUSPICIOUSLY AT WHATEVER HE'S DOING are you the responsible party.....]
[She pulls a small container of just... raw veggies out of her bag, sprinkles some of the offered salt on them, and starts eating???? This child is not a culinarian don't @ her.
No wait she's also got some sort of shelf-stable smoked sausage; protein's important when you're running around day in and day out.]
[She's at least managed to scrounge up a vegetable knife somewhere, which... she's now using to cut off slices of the sausage... look its former life was veggies; it's a utility knife now as far as she's concerned. She's at least got manners while eating!]
I've not had the experience myself. Bread-making was not within my course of study. [Perhaps the bread made in the culinary classes would have been better than the standard Archon loaf... she's just gonna surreptitiously survey his ingredients for any vegetables or fish.........]
[He can keep it, she's not interested... the fish, though... don't feed the strays nero]
My studies focused primarily on the aether that flows through the land and its practical uses, such as in combat. [There's a slight hesitation before she adds--] Aether being a power one can draw on in order to use magic or perform other arcane feats.
[Which will make her sound quite stupid if he already knew that, but so far she and Alphinaud are the only two from the Source here? It's fine.]
I can't imagine why not. We all harbor our own aether, after all, which is then returned to the Lifestream when we die. It's simply a matter of learning to attune one's own aether.
[Leaving aside the whole discussion of aetheric levels, locale-wise and personal; there's a reason they spend years studying it...]
A friend of mine fights using a weapon called a gunblade. His ammunition is imbued with aether to make it more powerful against his foes.
[She's also summoned a sword made entirely of aether, but is that too close to "magic"? Where's the line here]
Is a redoublement-- [She's absolutely gesturing with her fork, miming the feint and offense of a fencer] --magic if I channel aether into the attack?
[She's still using a physical weapon and the weapon is still doing damage, after all! It just does more when she channels her aether through it.]
I should say that one's inherent aether does vary from person to person. A dear friend can use aetheryte crystals halfway across the world to travel via the Lifestream in the blink of an eye, while others cannot manage a single trip without becoming ill.
That's hard to answer, y'know? Not like I have much to compare it against.
There's 5 countries, North, East, South, West, and Central. Wizards are born with their magic, and they're rare. They count as a separate thing than humans. What else d'ya wanna know?
[You fall into a chair next to the bed this man is resting in, affection, exasperation and an exasperation that hits you to your core. Why is he always like this? He’s half dead and barely breathing it takes everything in you not to throttle him for his recklessness.
He says something and with every word, your frustration grows. "What do you fucking mean you’re fine?!" You continue, angrily, desperately trying to convince him to see reason. You want him to be safe, you want him to be alive and to stop risking his life. You don’t think it’s that much to ask.
The North is dangerous, and you both know that. How is it that you’re the only one that seems to care about this man’s safety!?
He reaches up, gently caressing your cheek, ignoring the pain he should obviously be in. Your heart hammers away at your chest, "Don’t make that face… I’m counting on you, partner." ]
Anyways, this is actually the first memory Alisaie received, so after it ends, she takes a moment to shake her head and clear her mind. And then she's going to find Nero--not difficult, all things considered.]
Nero... I have a question for you, if you're willing.
[Nero and Disce in her cat form and studying the canals, trying to see if there are any fish they could potentially have for dinner. Sometimes you just think about the past, there's nothing weird about that.
Nero has not realized they're being broadcast just yet.
[Which means that gods, this is going to be a difficult conversation. But she has to try. She owes it to him.]
I just heard your voice a moment ago. You sounded angry. [She hesitates a moment, not certain how to continue it, but...] At the same time, I saw a vision of a man lying ill in a bed.
[Like that's going to help??? Honestly, Nero, the girl is like a dog with a bone and he's probably witnessed enough of her interrogations of people that he might be able to realize she won't let it drop.]
No. That much I can say for a certainty. It's identical--or nearly--to a skill a friend of mine possesses, which allows them to view scenes from a person's past.
[She's small, but she's quick--Alisaie's going to try to cut him off, stepping in front of him.]
I'm already certain it was yours. You need only confirm it.
week 0; monday
She at least notices him before she's gone too far.]
I don't suppose you know what's happened to all the salt? [LOOKING SUSPICIOUSLY AT WHATEVER HE'S DOING are you the responsible party.....]
no subject
No idea. It's in some of the houses, but the shops don't got it.
no subject
Is there any salt to be found here? Or has it all gone into that?
no subject
[Bread doesn't need that much salt, so he'll offer up what he's scrounged up.]
no subject
[She pulls a small container of just... raw veggies out of her bag, sprinkles some of the offered salt on them, and starts eating???? This child is not a culinarian don't @ her.
No wait she's also got some sort of shelf-stable smoked sausage; protein's important when you're running around day in and day out.]
What is it that you're making?
no subject
'm makin' some bread. Managed to find some flour and bread's calmin' to make.
[Kneading bread is incredibly soothing.]
no subject
I've not had the experience myself. Bread-making was not within my course of study. [Perhaps the bread made in the culinary classes would have been better than the standard Archon loaf... she's just gonna surreptitiously survey his ingredients for any vegetables or fish.........]
no subject
What kinda things did you study?
[Noble stuff?]
no subject
don't feed the strays nero]My studies focused primarily on the aether that flows through the land and its practical uses, such as in combat. [There's a slight hesitation before she adds--] Aether being a power one can draw on in order to use magic or perform other arcane feats.
[Which will make her sound quite stupid if he already knew that, but so far she and Alphinaud are the only two from the Source here? It's fine.]
no subject
That's how magic works how you're from, huh? Can anybody use it with enough study?
[He knows of magic, but not of whatever this Aether stuff is.]
Wait, what's an arcane feat that isn't magic?
no subject
[Leaving aside the whole discussion of aetheric levels, locale-wise and personal; there's a reason they spend years studying it...]
A friend of mine fights using a weapon called a gunblade. His ammunition is imbued with aether to make it more powerful against his foes.
[She's also summoned a sword made entirely of aether, but is that too close to "magic"? Where's the line here]
no subject
's different where I'm from. You're either born with magic, or you're not. Can't really change it.
[Thinking emoji]
Isn't that a magic weapon?
no subject
[She's still using a physical weapon and the weapon is still doing damage, after all! It just does more when she channels her aether through it.]
I should say that one's inherent aether does vary from person to person. A dear friend can use aetheryte crystals halfway across the world to travel via the Lifestream in the blink of an eye, while others cannot manage a single trip without becoming ill.
no subject
[There's a pause where he wants to tell her not to play with her fork, but... whatever, she's not his kid.]
The real old wizards have a lotta magic. They can do a lot more than somebody who's somethin' like 20. They couldn't do a teleport at all.
no subject
What sort of world is it?
no subject
There's 5 countries, North, East, South, West, and Central. Wizards are born with their magic, and they're rare. They count as a separate thing than humans. What else d'ya wanna know?
w2: Monday
He says something and with every word, your frustration grows. "What do you fucking mean you’re fine?!" You continue, angrily, desperately trying to convince him to see reason. You want him to be safe, you want him to be alive and to stop risking his life. You don’t think it’s that much to ask.
The North is dangerous, and you both know that. How is it that you’re the only one that seems to care about this man’s safety!?
He reaches up, gently caressing your cheek, ignoring the pain he should obviously be in. Your heart hammers away at your chest, "Don’t make that face… I’m counting on you, partner." ]
no subject
Anyways, this is actually the first memory Alisaie received, so after it ends, she takes a moment to shake her head and clear her mind. And then she's going to find Nero--not difficult, all things considered.]
Nero... I have a question for you, if you're willing.
no subject
Nero has not realized they're being broadcast just yet.
He looks over when he's called.]
... Yeah?
no subject
I just heard your voice a moment ago. You sounded angry. [She hesitates a moment, not certain how to continue it, but...] At the same time, I saw a vision of a man lying ill in a bed.
I think... it may have been a memory of yours.
no subject
Oh no. That means what he just saw was what she watched? This is what hell feels like. It has to be
He takes a moment to survey his surroundings like he's looking for the quickest out. ]
I ... don't know who you're talkin' about...
no subject
At first she was being gentle, but at his dissembling, Alisae fixes him with a fierce look.]
Is that so? Are you telling me that somebody else here has your voice? Curious, I thought I'd met everybody by this point.
no subject
[ It's time to start walking real quick. ]
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No. That much I can say for a certainty. It's identical--or nearly--to a skill a friend of mine possesses, which allows them to view scenes from a person's past.
[She's small, but she's quick--Alisaie's going to try to cut him off, stepping in front of him.]
I'm already certain it was yours. You need only confirm it.
no subject
Fine.
[ Wait what. ]
You mean somebody can do that on command?
[ This is the worst thing he's heard all day. ]
no subject
But Alisaie's not that cruel.]
No. They can't control it, as far as I'm aware, but it does seem to trigger at remarkably convenient times.
[A frown.]
Usually.
no subject
[ At least it's not always being forced to share memories. But it's still leaving him with a sense of unease. ]