driftfleet | System Mingle!!

[So, okay. It's not like she'd been following him, not even remotely. Her own little quest had drawn her to a cave, however, and with how monochromatic the rest of the forest had been up to this point, it was basically inevitable that she'd end up at the same cave eventually. Damn thing sticks out like a sore thumb. The fact that it was Belth of all people was... fine. It's not like she holds grudges forever, and he is using the staff these days, as far as she can tell.

It's just- that a thank-you can go a long way, especially when she's been uncharacteristically charitable, and she couldn't resist the urge to make sure he was using it properly, and... well, whatever! Who cares, she doesn't. Not at all.

So when he calls out, she casually kicks the stupid stick that gave her away and strides out from around the corner, hands in her pockets, looking about as disinterested as one can get. It's not even feigned- as far as caves go, this one's pretty shitty, and she'd been stuck in Wave Echo for so long that she knows shitty caves.]

It's just me. Don't think the fleet's turned off Friendly Fire, so maybe chill?

[He isn't sure what he expected but Lup wasn't it. His ears pin against his hair immediately, even wilting a bit at the edges. He hasn't apologized yet. It's not that he wasn't going to, but he wanted to finish his surprise before he did...

... and now she's caught up with him here, and he's empty-handed. Or maybe not so empty-handed since he's using the staff she made him, but still.]

S-- sorry, [he mumbles.] I was expecting a cave spider.

[Ugh, god, this is so damn awkward. Should he act like nothing happened? Try to make a hasty and sloppy apology? ... Leave? Leaving sounds great right now, but he needs these gems so he can get the cloth to... Fuuuuuuck. This is how idiots like him get a negative charisma modifier.

He swallows hard.]

Um... thank you for the staff.

Last I checked, cave spiders are gonna be coming from in, not out.

[omg but finally he said-]

What, that old thing? Sure. At least it's seeing some use.

[She figured he'd take her threat seriously, but since they hadn't seen much of one another and he hadn't actively sought her out, she figured he was just avoiding her. It's something of a relief that he's putting the effort in- it means he's not totally hopeless.

She saunters past him, her hands still in her pockets - he's so jumpy that she's not sure if it's more or less threatening, but considering her upgraded gear, maybe it's best to keep her hands to herself for now.]

That doesn't mean something else that's egregiously-oversized can't wander in here, however. I'm quite over this place already.

[He's not trying to be argumentative, here-- there's a legitimate risk of some too-big bird or something coming in here.

And yes, he's definitely still jumpy. He manages not to flinch or anything when she walks by, but he fixes his eyes on her like he expects something to fly at his head again.]

Can I... ask you something?

[She snorts at his reply but doesn't bite back. He's not wrong, but he did say cave spider, so she'll claim the high ground on that one and keep that victory to herself. Sometimes you have to indulge children.

Her pace is casual, but she doesn't stop moving; he can follow along if he likes.]

You can ask, sure.

[It doesn't promise an answer, but she'll hear him out.]

[One day he'll appreciate all the lengths people go to indulge him. One day. For now, he's happy trailing behind like a little lost duckling.]

What are your favorite colors? [A pause.] I apologize if you were expecting something more serious. The way I asked it seemed more dire than it was.

[Still, he wants to know. For reasons.]

[She glances over her shoulder at him, her brow quirked; for a moment her calm expression is marred instead with surprise. She definitely hadn't expected that one.]

Uhhh...? Reds are always a safe bet, I guess. I like most of 'em, though. I got used to dressing in rainbows, for obvious reasons.

[She gestures with one hand towards her hair, into which the ever-changing highlight colours are woven. Today they're a soft purple-blue shade, and her outfit is similarly styled.]

[Belth is furiously taking notes with a gently-sparkling purple quill, self-lit, and doesn't notice the look.]

I see... That makes sense. [Scribble scribble.] Thank you for your answer.

Ah, were you here to look for gems, too? If we're searching for the same thing I don't want to get in your way.

[Ooookay. Suspicious, but she'll let him keep his secrets. For now, anyway.]

Gems? Nah, though if we find a bunch I can probably use them as spell components... there's supposed to be some kind of creature living in here. I need to get a half-dozen of its fangs.

[It's harmless, really. He dismisses the quill and tucks his journal back into his robe, looking a little more upbeat and less cowed than a few minutes ago, as he and Lup settle into something slightly less awkward. As long as they don't talk about what happened it's fine. He has yet to apologize and he doesn't feel he can apologize unless he proves himself, and that's not going to happen today.]

I only need a few for-- wait. What kind of creature, exactly?

Hmmmm... good question. The guy couldn't say.

[Her lips curve into a grin before she faces forward again.]

He never saw it, personally, but another adventurer found a tooth while looking for- shocker- gems. Brought the tooth back and sold it and the story to a jeweler in town. He did show it to me, though, and it's real enough. And also real big.

[She holds her hand up over her shoulder, thumb and pointer stretched out as far as they can go- implying the single fang to be at least 5 inches long.]

[Lup can literally see the blood draining from his face as she goes on to describe how big this fucking tooth is. Whether she's exaggerating or not, one thing that remains strong in this boy besides his stubbornness is his fight-or-flight urge. Mostly flight. Mostly ice block to deflect attention and then a quick invisibility spell followed by sprinting the fuck out of there.]

A-and you just-- you're going to take it on by yourself?! Even if you polymorph yourself, that's no guarantee of safety if this thing is as big as you say it is.

[fuuuuuck]

I could have run into it by myself!

Edited 2019-04-30 06:29 (UTC)

I know, right!? Fucking wild. That's what makes it an adventure, my dude.

[She can't help laughing, though. His expression is priceless!]

Don't worry, I'm not totally crazy. This is a scouting mission- to see if it's here at all, first, and to see what the fuss is all about. It might be a load of bull, or maybe the first guy just found a loose tooth in an old nest or something. But if it is here? I'm gonna find out how strong it is and decide what to do from there.

[Even though he's being laughed at, he can't help a despondent:]

This is why I don't go outside!

[mood, tbh]

Oh... a scouting mission. That-- that makes sense. Way better than running in and blowing up everything you see indiscriminately.

[He says this knowing that it's what he'd do if surprised.]

Don't get too excited, that might still happen.

[She will make no such promises if they come across a giant chomping monster and it's do or die time. Sorry not sorry.]

[That's how he solves problems if he doesn't have a plan.]

I'm the opposite of excited, honestly.

[He rubs at his temple.]

But... at the very least, we're going in the same direction. Two sets of eyes and ears are better than one.

That's the idea, yeah. Try and keep up.

[She strides past him with utmost confidence, pulling her hands from her pockets and summoning a few orbs of glowing energy to dance around them, lighting up the area ahead. She also reveals a new accessory- a padded leather gauntlet on her right hand, plated with iridescent rainbow metal and finely spiked metal knuckles. The metal, he should find familiar: it's the very same magically-enhanced type that bands his staff.]

[He wishes he had confidence like that. He eyes the gauntlet, though, as it's very familiar and looks to be well-crafted. She likely made it herself, and he honestly can't think of something more fitting for Lup than brass knuckles to beat the shit out of someone with.]

What kind of metal did you use? [He's curious if she made the alloy herself.]

Looks cool, right?

[She smiles faintly over her shoulder.]

That magic planet, a few stops back- the underground was full of this stuff, and it's just as magical as everything else we found there. Mining it netted me not only the metal itself, but loads of dust that I need for artificing. I spend a few weeks stocking up.

It looks-- [A pause, as he doesn't swear all that much.] -- badass.

[So... awkward. But he is definitely enchanted by it.]

A smart idea to be sure. Do you have some skill in smithing, then? How did you learn artificing?

Hell yeah.

[She doesn't even care if he might be sucking up. It's accurate anyway.]

I went to school for it about 30 years ago, and I used to specialize in transmutation magic before I switched to evocation, so I know my way around transforming materials. When it comes to creating magic shit, it usually comes down to artificing skills more than crafting. [She hums a bit, thoughtful.] Well, I guess I did get a bit of outside help. But with all the hunters on this planet, there's plenty of experts with leatherworking around.

[He's not sucking up on purpose, it's just really cool!]

I see. That does make sense... and I can't ignore the similarities to enchanting, which I do enjoy doing. But even between the skills I've picked up here and there, I don't think I could do something quite like that...

Magic is malleable. Metal requires a lengthier process.

Oh, believe me, I know. I learned that the hard way!

[She's grinning, despite that. The artificing attempts in her youth, the year spent enrolled at the Hanging Arcaneum, those countless hours of practice getting ready to create the relics, and then the relics themselves- yeah, she's been around the block. It would be pretty shameful if she didn't know at least this much by now.]

It helps to work into it the kind of spells that your material has a natural affinity for. Like, your staff? It bonds well with Mage Armor because wood and metal are well suited for shields. Notice the caged bark motif around the crystal? That's intentional, too- bark is a tree's armor.

System Mingle!!

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