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

[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.]

[cloakand_danger]

[He sips at it cautiously, holding a bit on his tongue to let the flavor sink in before swallowing it. He's never quite sure how his newly-revived sense of taste is going to react to something, and so far he's only been able to test it on ship food.] ...That is good.

[...He also hasn't had alcohol in like four thousand years, so he should probably pace himself.]

So would you rather tell me about your gods that provide such things, or ask more about the Summon Spirits? [He's curious about other worlds, and maybe if he learns more about hers he can decipher more of the things she says...]

[castrationfist]

Eh? Well, I'm a goddess, and I provided it, so...

So, now, your turn! Tell me more about these 'Summon Spirits'.

[cloakand_danger]

[Oh, don't ask it like that, you've handed him a blank check for infodumping...]

There are nine elemental Spirits, one for each of the eight elements of mana, except Light, which has one Spirit each for Sun and Moon. The Spirit of Wind also likes to appear divided into three sisters much of the time, but they don't seem to count themselves as separate beings the way Aska and Luna do. Then there are four other Spirits who aren't aligned to any particular element: Origin, the King of the Summon Spirits; Maxwell, who gifted the Elves with spellcasting; Verius, the guardian of hearts; and...the Spirit of the great Mana Tree which provides life-giving mana to the world. I myself am that Spirit's guardian, and guardian of the Tree as well.

[It feels strange to say...it's only been a year, he hasn't quite incorporated that role into part of his identity.]

[castrationfist]

Oh, what a grand role!

[She applauds appreciatively.]

But, does that mean while you're here, it has no guardian?

[cloakand_danger]

[He makes a face. That's been on his mind, too.]

I have been assured that I will be returned to the point in time that I was taken from. I can only hope that's the case; our situation right now is far from stable, and I don't like the thought of her- of the Tree being left unguarded.

[castrationfist]

And none of these Summon Spirits possess the power to send someone through time, if it isn't true?

[cloakand_danger]

[That's actually a thought that hadn't occurred to him, and he looks startled and a bit relieved to consider it.]

...Origin might. The Eternal Sword was his creation, and I believe it could do that in the right hands. He's forbidden that use of it, but if the world was in such peril that there was no other option, I'm sure he could be persuaded to relent.

[castrationfist]

[When he says that, her face lights up, like he just confirmed something she'd been thinking. And, on top of that, she's smug enough about it that it's probably obvious she was kind of drawing the conversation in this direction from the start.]

I see. But touching that sword might be pretty dangerous, you know? I wouldn't try it unless you were prepared to risk everything.

[cloakand_danger]

[Then she probably wasn't prepared for that last statement to cause Yuan to break into slightly incredulous laughter.]


...You...oh, you have no idea.

[Give him a moment and you might be able to persuade him to elaborate.]

[castrationfist]

[... She doesn't like being on this end of someone knowing more than they're saying.]

I believe I do, but why don't you enlighten me?

[cloakand_danger]

[He settles down and manages to continue, still looking lost and incredulous, but no longer so much at Caster as just at the joke his own life has become:]

I already did. Risked everything to get control of it. Lost everything, even the Sword. To a young fool of a hero who thought he could save everyone.

And the worst part of it is, he was right. Almost right. People died, but...he did better than I could have.