open post (may 2018)

[parser]

open post

in the cover of the night Since the last one was so popular, here's a brand-new open post for all of you to post characters, mingle, and tag each other! Seriously, post whatever you want. Empty toplevels? Open starters? Starters closed to specific people? It's all good — just enjoy! If you feel like you need a couple of prompts to get started, though, consider any one (or a combination) of the following: FITS: EVERYONE. No matter who you are or where you are or what you're doing, your clothes have suddenly — poof! — transformed into the Gold Saucer bunny uniform! Because now EVERYONE can wear it... EVERYONE. PLEASE USE THE AUTO-TRANSLATE FUNCTION. You have the sudden urge to shout a phrase from the auto-translate dictionary at the nearest person! This can be a whole phrase or any combination of phrases. What are you going to yell? "We're chewing the fat"? "I seem to have misplaced my keyboard"? "Miqo'te" "rear"?! THE CURSED SWORD. A shifty merchant sold you a remarkably beautiful Far Eastern katana for an absolute pittance — with just one catch: now that it's been in your possession for a few bells, the sword keeps whispering in your mind, telling you to kill... kill... find stronger prey... hunt... The katana cannot be destroyed or abandoned; it is impervious to assault and any attempt to leave it by the wayside will simply find it in your belongings once more. Will your character succumb to its mystical influence? Find a new owner for it? Try to exorcise the evil spirit lurking within? As always, tag out and have fun!

TEMPLATE CODED BY valoirs

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[astralera]

[ Era cannot relate to that, as she's certain that she could have one foot in the grave and still would be asked to aid someone in someway. And Era would help, regardless. What she doesn't like is the thought that Y'shtola may be treated as though she's fragile. Just because someone has been injured does not mean they'll remain that way forever. Healers are often some of the most resilient people Era has had the opportunity to meet. ]

You are a talented conjurer. If you feel well enough to leave your sickbed I don't see the need for continued concern.

[ The only thing she worries over is Y'shtola's aethersight... And Era supposes now is as good a time as any to bring up a thought she's had for some time. It is just the two of them, with no possible eavesdroppers. Era still takes care with how she phrases what she next says, as it's a sensitive topic. ]

Should you ever desire to train your other senses, pray send word to me and I will assist you. It's not good to strain one's eyes.

[eyegowiththeflow]

Conjurers know well that conjurers make the worst patients. Ever in a hurry to tend to others at the cost of themselves. I mind myself better than most, but... [Given her current choices, who could blame anyone for suspecting she'd hasten to resume the struggle, even at cost to herself? Y'shtola is ill-suited to sitting on the sidelines...]

I wish only we had time. Time enough to train such things, or time enough to rest and study. And you are plagued with this more than I, as well we both know. [She shuts her eyes briefly, then shakes her head.] Yet if Eorzea's peace is our lives, we will pay that, will we not? As many already have. As doubtless more will continue to.

[astralera]

True, yet conjurers are also able to heal themselves if needed. [ It's what Era herself does almost every single time. Grievous injury? She doesn't have time for that sort of thing - time to bring out the potions and incredibly potent healing spells.

Then again she has access to an unimaginable well of aether to draw from and doesn't often realize what an impact this makes on her magic. ]

Then I will confess that I shall worry until such a time it is no longer necessary. [ Y'shtola is her friend, and so Era is willing to be open with her on this subject. ] It will not interfere in any way, except perhaps for me to keep abreast of any alternative solutions during my travels. Should any ancient texts provide me with any insight I will relay it to you posthaste.

[ She falls silent, taking a moment to drink from her flask. Speaking so much without pause is not something she does frequently and her throat enjoys reminding her of this. ]

[eyegowiththeflow]

Never did I doubt that anyway. [And indeed, some small part of her hopes that an answer forthcomes in some ancient work touching on the spell and means she had invoked in desperation. Yet honestly, she hopes more for Thancred than herself, for what she'd done to him had rendered him less effective overall to the cause.]

[She carries no regret for her choices. None of them could be of any use dead. But fixing the consequences would be a boon. Though not one she expects, nor one she will dwell on.]

To a related note, I have not heard from Krile of late, save for some comments about a land of mystery and speculations she cared not to reveal to anyone. [Heard anything?]

[astralera]

[ Era considers this. If Krile has not told Y'shtola it's possible that she did not wish for their friend to know. On the other hand it could just be that she has been so caught up in Eureka that Krile did not think to tell Y'shtola her findings.

Well. If Krile would prefer their friend not to know, she should have told Era as much. ]

It was at one point the Isle of Val.

[eyegowiththeflow]

And you know this of a certainty? [Y'shtola straightens slightly. The remark is not entirely a surprise, but still, for the Isle to have made its appearance once more -- and under such circumstances!] Little wonder Krile wished not to voice speculation, then. That is a remarkable occurrence.

[astralera]

Yes. [ She thinks back to the ruins she came across, and how they proved without a doubt that the Students of Baldesion had once resided there. ] The way that aether works there is... odd. You can align your own to various elements. It was like learning to fight all over again.

I will pass along your interest to Krile, if you would like. She may reach out to you on the subject.

[eyegowiththeflow]

I trust Krile completely. If I am required, she will not hesitate to send word. Though if the aether there is indeed so strange...

[Y'shtola touches the bridge of her nose with one finger. In Eorzea, her impairment is of little consequence; her magic overcomes it, and if there is a price to that, she pays it without question. But a land of strange and chaotic nature -- one where the aether is so befouled and muddled that Era of all people describes it as 'learning to fight all over again' -- likely would render her a liability sooner than an asset.]

[She has not overtly regretted her loss. Here, for the first time, she may be about it.]

Still, if you are aiding her, she cannot ask for better. Likely I serve best in Gyr Abania, doing what I can to mend the ills of the people now that the occupation is ended. 'Tis after all far easier for them to maintain their anger when their plight is not yet ended, even after all that has changed.

[astralera]

It's true that your continued presence would be a boon to them. Having a neutral ally is important in these times, for there is still hostility toward Ala Mhigo from the other nations... I had not realized how bad the tensions have been. Sanson, Guydelot and I managed to prevent a possible uprising from the Gridanians not so long ago, with no small amount of assistance from Jehantel.

[ Era will never understand why people let long-held grudges consume them. Such things should never be passed down from parent to child, and yet...

She sighs. Sometimes even the vaunted Warrior of Light is worn down from such things. ]

The Sultana is working on aiding in the relief efforts, and with Raubahn now returned to Ala Mhigo I imagine things will go smoothly.

[eyegowiththeflow]

On the one hand, 'tis forced cooperation only that led Eorzea to strike. I mean no praise for the Griffon, but I cannot deny the success of his plan. [If anything, it shows how fragile and foolish the current state of affairs is.] It is ever the nature of people to look to themselves alone. Aid to Ala Mhigo has cost them at no appreciable benefit, never mind that such benefit is obvious and forthcoming.

But you have heard my lectures on this before, and seen them fall upon deaf ears. [Back when Titan was first summoned, and she had noted how Limsa Lominsa provoked it.]

[astralera]

Perhaps if my talents laid in politics rather than combat... [ But no, her ability to master new combat skills so quickly has saved countless lives. Even if better diplomacy may have helped to prevent the situations from arising in the first place. ] Things have improved, regardless. And they will continue to do so, especially with Ishgard as an ally now.

[ She will make sure of it. Even if this isn't the 'Darkness' Hydaelyn means for her to prevent the spread of Era will do her best to help however she can. ]

I am certain more people will accept the wisdom of your lectures with time. You have yet to steer me wrong.

[eyegowiththeflow]

Your talents and your lack of politics have done us more aid over time in that arena than aught else attempted. [Not to fluff her ego, but it's a simple truth. Eorzea would suffer almost as much from a Warrior of Light who grievously underestimated or undervalued herself as one who had become arrogant and callous in her strength. Neither threatens, yet caution is ever warranted.]

[And things did seem to improve, and yet... a darkness seems to cross Y'shtola's countenance, though she says nothing to explain it.]

[astralera]

Mayhaps...

[ While Era is aware that her abilities have aided a great deal, she also has the unfortunate habit of underestimating how much of an impact she has. There is always more she could be doing. Times like this, when all she's doing is idly checking up on the people she cares for most... Well, it's time that Era could be using doing more important things. Improving her skills that she might be better equipped to protect and defend.

Her own well being is not something she ever truly considers, so it's just as well that her visits with the Fortemps patriarch all but force her to rest for a few days at a time.

Not wishing to linger on depressing topics that are of no real use to either of them, Era decides to bring up something a bit more lighthearted. ]

I recently encountered the Griffin hatchling I cared for for a time. Ben is fully grown and in good health, living in Dravania.

[eyegowiththeflow]

[The change of topic is somewhat incongruous, yet produces the intended effect. Perhaps more so than Era might have expected, for the statement brings a rare unreserved smile to Y'shtola's face, touched only by thoughtfulness.]

With so many great catastrophes and changes occurring around us seemingly by the hour, 'tis a welcome reminder that life proceeds apace. [Indeed, one all the more welcome to a woman who had just of recent been cut down. A reminder that not all things are glorious victories or heart-rending defeats, even if the things she meddles in are most often just so grand in scale.]

I pray you not reveal such a thing in Ala Mhigo, however. You receive acclaim aplenty from the people there, I can tell.

[astralera]

Life will always find a way to press onward, revolutions or no.

[ As is usually the case with Y'shtola, Era can't tell if her friend is being serious or simply teasing her. Either way she can't help the long-suffering sigh that escapes her. While Era greatly appreciates being appreciated she can't stand the attention she so often receives once people realize who she is. ]

If only Raen women were more commonplace in Ala Mhigo. [ Translation: it would be wonderful to not be immediately recognized whenever she visits the Reach.

At least there is still rampant discrimination against Au Ra in Ishgard, meaning Era is generally left alone. The same cannot really be said about Ala Mhigo. ]

[eyegowiththeflow]

Perhaps in time they shall be. In the meantime, you could always ask advice of the Sultana in such matters.

[This is certainly a jest, accompanied by a smile. Era had saved Nanamo on any number of occasions, after all, from trouble engendered by her habits.]

[astralera]

[ Y'shtola's comment takes her so off guard that Era chokes on the snort of laughter it surprises out of her. ]

I am loath to bother the Sultana with such trivial matters.


((ooc: i have no idea where to take this thread but i'm enjoying your y'shtola so much i'm clinging to what i can ;w; ))

[eyegowiththeflow]

To the contrary -- after all that has happened, I think she would object to neither a friendly face nor a conversation not belaboured with meaning and ramification. [Not considering how lonely she must feel at the moment, having bid farewell to one who had been by her side all this time. 'Twas necessary for Nanamo to stand on her own two feet properly at last, but as they both well knew, what is necessary oft is the most painful choice.]


((I'm just glad for the chance to play Y'sh, and I'm glad you like her.))