Mingle for the oldies

[bb_wolf]

Who: Anyone who is immortal, inordinately long lived or just likes hanging out with old people?
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Málum on the Iskaulit
When: End of November

Broadcast: Text
[The broadcast is simple.]

Málum. Tonight. Immortal or near enough meet up. Buy your own.

Action: Málum

[Bigby is there, drinking whiskey and smoking cheap, horrible and stinky cigarettes. The rest of you can do what you want.]

Comments

[castrationfist]

Why would I use those?

[She sounds insulted at the very thought.]

[cloakand_danger]

[Now he's looking nonplussed instead.]

...Do you have another ready source of ingredients?

[castrationfist]

Obviously, I'd make them.

[... She doesn't appear inclined to expand on that.]

[cloakand_danger]

From...what, exactly? [Although he can probably guess; she definitely feels like the kind of being that doesn't necessarily need to obey the laws of physics.]

[castrationfist]

From my most sacred of arts! Super divine charm ♥ Good Wife Power!

[...

... yeah.]

[cloakand_danger]

[...Right. Okay. Moving on.]

So what kind of being are you, that you have artes which can do such things?

[castrationfist]

Ignored?! At least react a little bit!

[she sighs.]

I'm a goddess, of course. Oh, but right now I've been downgraded to a Heroic Spirit, so it's not like I have my full powers.

[cloakand_danger]

[Nope, he's ignoring that comment, too. And going to try not to think about the 'goddess' thing, because that's a can of worms we don't feel like opening just yet.]

What's a 'Heroic Spirit'?

[castrationfist]

Obviously, it's exactly what it sounds like.

[is she intentionally being unhelpful or is she just naturally this way? it is a mystery.]

[cloakand_danger]

[Fortunately, her nature makes Yuan inclined to be patient: a lot of the mana spirits of his world are pretty much exactly like this.]

Let me rephrase that, then: what does a Heroic Spirit do? As a stranger to your world, I'm not familiar with them.

[castrationfist]

Do?

[don't say 'my husband' don't say 'my husband' do not say it]

Well, sometimes the will of humanity summons is to fight off threats, and sometimes we're summoned to fight and kill each other for the Holy Grail. But I'm just a good wife who doesn't involve myself with that stuff anymore!

[cloakand_danger]

[Yuan...nods slowly and tries to pretend like all of that made sense.]

...It takes time to adjust to not fighting anymore, doesn't it? [Let's see if we can find some common ground...]

[castrationfist]

It does. But, it's not like I was ever suited for fighting in the first place.

[she doesn't like getting killed, ok]

[cloakand_danger]

That's a little surprising to hear. From the look of things, you're a great deal more powerful than I am, and I've been fighting all my life.

[castrationfist]

Well, you're not wrong. I'm not sure what your deal is, but you seem to still be alive. You've got quite a high level of Mystery for someone still alive, but that's all it is... Unfortunately, you can never reach those of us who have been made into legends.

[cloakand_danger]

[...Okay, it turns out even with someone like this, his patience may in fact be finite.]

Was I supposed to understand any of that? Because I think you missed the mark.

[castrationfist]

[i'm sorry for nasubabble.]

Hm... Well, it's a bit surprising that you don't if you were invited here, but never mind. The point is, I can be powerful enough to slaughter everyone in this Fleet, but that isn't what makes someone suited to fighting.

[She says it like she's pretty sure she is in fact that powerful.]

[cloakand_danger]

[The sass vanishes as soon as magibabble turns into what sounds like philosophy.]

Really? Then what would you say does?

[castrationfist]

I think it's a combination of factors. Power isn't one of them, either. Power can be nurtured, and even a total weakling can be suited for battle. It can even help them grow.

The will to survive, I think, is part of it. A willingness to dirty your own hands. Perhaps, a thirst for blood, that you can enjoy it...

... Maybe, a fate that ties them to the battlefield.

[cloakand_danger]

Hm. ...Now you sound like someone I know. [He shakes his head a little.] I won't believe in anything like fate. Wherever I end up, it's the result of the path I chose to take.

[The rest rings uncomfortably true, though.] ...But if that will to survive at any cost is part of it, maybe that's why it's so hard to stop fighting once you've won.

[castrationfist]

Oh? Someone beautiful and wise, perhaps?

[... why is she like this.]

You may not be wrong. Certainly, here, I find myself ready to curse and kill at a moment's notice, but my perspective is a bit different from everyone else's. Though, I don't think anyone would mind if I cursed the Atroma a bit!

If you don't agree with fate, then perhaps 'origin' would be a better choice? The very concept that defines a person at the moment of their birth.

[cloakand_danger]

Hah! More like a noble idiot too stubborn to listen to anyone but his own guilt complex. [And then, before she can get the wrong idea:] My best friend of 4000 years.

"Origin"...back home, that's the name of the king of the Summon Spirits, the one with dominion over life itself. I don't know one way or the other how much influence he has over shaping individual souls...and I doubt he'd answer if I asked him, either.

[castrationfist]

[She wants to comment on that 'best friend', but that's like the least interesting part of this conversation.]

"Summon spirits"? I'd like to hear more, but... If they're like a god, I'm not too surprised. The deification of a concept, a powerful force formed from the collective unconscious... It's not like there's no precedent!

But I think this is going to be a long conversation, and it would be a shame to not share drinks for it. Would you care for some sake?

[cloakand_danger]

Sake...? [He tilts his head until the word clicks into place.] Oh, I remember, that's what they call potion in Mizuho. I wouldn't mind a bit, if you're willing to share.

[castrationfist]

Rice wine, yes. And mine is especially good, since it came from the gods, after all!

[She produces two sake cups out of thin air, and pours a small amount for both of them.]