If At First You Don't Succeed... Try, Try Again

[peacockherald]

Who: Vanyel & Anyone
Broadcast: nope
Action: The Casino-way station
When: During the time the planet is in range

<sub>[ At first a quiet hallway in one of the casino waystations is just that - a hallway, with a few doors dotted here and there leading into some shop or restaurant or another. Except wasn’t one of them beginning to glow? Yes, yes it was. The edges took on a definite white-blue light, flaring brightly before giving way to a panorama of what could only be a landscape of the planet below.

A figure comes through, dark hair looking disheveled, mud and plant life smeared across a dark-blue shirt, snowy white boots marred by dark streaks. The human shape sunk down to its knees, clearly breathing hard, breath rattling in his chest - and it is a he. Behind him, the visage of the planet faded, the “doors” closing with a fading light. The man clutched at his chest, hunching over in pain.

Slowly he sat up, revealing his face to be that of one of Vanyel Ashkevron, albeit streaked with sweat and a little pale. He looked around, blinking owlishly, seeming to recognize where he was. The thinest of smiles worked across his lips, almost triumphant. ]</sub>

Well… that went better than I had hoped…

Comments

[poetontheinside]

[Ray had walked into the corridor, throwing a little rubber ball from one hand to the other, right at the moment Vanyel sits up. Immediately he smells danger- what the fuck was that, why is Vanyel sweating like he's in pain, why does he look so dazed-- and he runs over, crouching beside the other man.]

You okay?

[peacockherald]

_{[ Every magical nerve inside of him was on fire. Gates hurt. They hurt so much. Though without it he might not have gotten out of that particular dilemma so intact and he was certainly glad to know the Gates COULD work...}

He looked to Ray, sighing in relief and reaching out to grasp the other. ]

I'll be fine, Gates just hurt. Give me a moment, my friend.

[poetontheinside]

[He's frowning in concern, now, letting Vanyel grab his arm and wrapping his other one around his shoulder.]

What gates? Should I get a doctor?

[peacockherald]

Gates. What I walked through. I can craft them, travel long distances in single steps.

_{[ Though this was the furthest he had ever traveled. He leaned against Ray, resting his head on the others shoulder as he concentrated on breathing and pushing back the pain. ]}

I will be fine, truly, I just need a moment. Doctors as you know them cannot help.

[poetontheinside]

Jesus Christ, you did that? [he looks up, and around him, still crouching so he can give Vanyel the support he needs, to see if it was still there. Nothing- the corridor looked just like it had before.

Ray shivers, like there's something in the air that he's not used to, and then looks back at Vanyel.]

How about doctors as you know 'em? Any of those around?

[peacockherald]

_{[ He laughs softly, thogh even that little sound produces an ache. At least the gate had not backlashes like last time. He had nearly died for that folly. ]}

One of my many abilities as a Herald Mage.

_{[ Slowly he pushed to his feet, shaking, but whole. ]}

I am afraid not. I just need to rest. This will pass.

[poetontheinside]

[He helps him up, offering him an arm- and he'd usually feel awkward about this, being so close, but his concern is outweighing all of that.]

Why'd you do it? Make that gate?

[peacockherald]

Needed to escape something unpleasant. I didn't have many options, and I thought that with so much magic, perhaps...

_{[ He had worried it would backlash. If it did, he would die, either from the magic itself or whatever had been chasing him. No way to call for help, and unsure how many more might be on his tail - more than his magic alone might handle - he had tried the last ditch effort. The Gate.}

He turned his gaze up to the other man, surprisingly hard and stern. ]

Do not go down to that planet at night, Ray.

[poetontheinside]

Jesus. [A shudder runs through him, and he's definitely not letting go of Vanyel yet, not when he got this spooked.] I won't, okay?

[peacockherald]

Good, thank you.

_{[ He didn't know if anyone was left down there, but he hoped not. He didn't have the strength for another gate, not so far removed from the planet's magic, drained from him as soon as he stepped from its shores. ]}

I believe... I could use a drink. Tea, perhaps. Tea and honey.

[poetontheinside]

[He nods, still looking kind of freaked out, but he's got something else to focus on: tea and honey. He can do that.

He starts leading Vanyel towards the nearest cafe, still propping him up, until he gets him on a chair, at a table.]

I'll go get you something, alright? You sit tight.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He walked with him, feeling better by the minute, though it was slow progress. He sat gratefully, pushing back his hair from his muddied face, scratches from the foliage streaked across his cheeks. ]}

My thanks, Ray. Just a small cup will do. Perhaps something to eat.

_{[ Energy to draw from. The sooner he could replenish a portion of his magic, the easier this would be to bear. ]}

[poetontheinside]

['Just a small cup' his ass: he comes back with a big mug of tea, bottle of honey and a sandwich. He puts all of them down in front of Vanyel, still frowning with worry.]

You look like shit. What the fuck happened?

[tothefly]

[Natasha's there when the doorway starts to glow, and immediately can only think of Loki--the doorways Clint and Fury described, that she's only seen through security footage. Nothing good can come of something like this, but there's nowhere for her to go. Nowhere to hide that she can guarantee is safe. So instead she drops into a ready stance, and waits for whatever is going to emerge.

What does come through is almost unrecognizable, at least until he lifts his head, and Natasha recognizes Vanyel, looking clearly like he's been through the wringer. Easing up just slightly, she looks him over with no small amount of suspicion, verging on concern. Not for him, but for what might be following.]

Alive is usually better than dead. Are you hurt?

[peacockherald]

_{[ The gate closed quickly, and without his magic was not going to open again. Certainly he had no intention of reopening said gate any time soon, not with every magical nerve in him screaming. ]}

No, nothing serious, thankfully. All of my skills have not yet deserted me, it seems.

[tothefly]

Some skills. I didn't think this place would let someone keep talents like that. Too risky.

[And yet, despite speaking of risk, here's Natasha offering him a hand up. Don't worry, she's stronger than she looks.]

Something happen on the planet?

[peacockherald]

Heh, did I not tell you I could do magic? I am not the only one either.

_{[ Duke, Felix, many others. He was far from the only mage in the Fleet.}

He blinked, seeing her hand, taking it gratefully and getting to his feet with only a slight stumble. ]

I don't rightly know. I just know I was being chased, and that if they had caught me... well, the Tourist would need new security personnel. It changed so much from when the sun was out.

[tothefly]

Not the magic in general that I was referring to. More the teleportation, especially over that distance. I'd figure Marsiva would keep that sort of talent to a more limited range, keep you playing by the rules.

[The slightly smug-sounding comment merits nothing but a slightly arched eyebrow as she helps him to his feet, likely more easily than he's expecting, and supports him as he stumbles.]

Did you get a look at what was chasing you?

[She figures it's probably safe to skip the who and go straight to the what.]

[peacockherald]

I do as well, but perhaps because I returned here?

_{[ It was the only thing he could think of at the moment. He had tried to leave the world entirely in Paradisa, but perhaps if he had only wanted to go from the Castle to the Village it might have worked. ]}

No, unfortunately. I only got the sense of a pack of animals, and fairly large. I didn't stay still long enough to truly see what they were.

_{[ He didn't think he'd survive if he had. ]}

[tothefly]

It was a mistake going down there, treating that planet like a picnic. A vacation, whatever. Let's hope no one actually pays the price for it.

Were there others being chased, or were you alone?

[Rescue effort might be fruitless, but she's been doing this hero thing too long to not ask the questions.]

[peacockherald]

During the day it felt fine except for the abundance of magic. The planet is saturated with it, to the point it felt like it was overflowing.

_{[ He remembered it pressing on him, pushing and prodding at his skin like water looking for the easiest path down the river bed. ]}

No, no it was just me as far as I knew. Thank the Havens for that. I had been with a friend, but we got separated. I didn't see a reason to worry, until... until this happened.

[tothefly]

Let's hope your friend didn't ruin into the same trouble.

[Natasha pulls her comm from her pocket, meaning to check broadcasts to see if there's anyone signaling for help from the planet, but the screen gives her nothing but static. She curses eloquently in Russian, shoving it back in her pocket.]

No signal. I guess the field you mentioned doesn't like electronics much. Can you walk? We should get moving.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He cannot understand the language, but he recognizes her words for what they are - cursing. It's surprisingly eloquent in whatever language she is speaking. For a moment, he has an appreciation of it, even if he was not a supporter of such crude language himself. ]}

Perhaps not. I never got a clear understanding of how magic and technology interact.

And yes, I can walk. Is there a cafe close? I could do with some tea and honey. It helps return some of my strenght.

[tothefly]

[She hasn't yet gotten a chance to learn firsthand just how the implant handles invective. It obviously translates other languages for her--she can read lips, she knows when what she's hearing and what she's seeing don't match--but she has wondered if it might censor for the audience at home. Just enough.

Right now, the only thing she's wondering is how high the body count is, if the supposedly powerful magic-user ran away.]

They usually don't. Or are the same thing, depending on your point of view. I try not to mix them, myself.

There's a place a couple blocks back. They might have a better communications system, too. Something I can use to reach the planet. This way.

[If he can stand on his own, she'll let him, and she'll let him walk. Starting down the hall, she does at least stay close enough to catch him.]

[peacockherald]

_{[ He pauses a moment when he finds his feet, letting the world stop spinning before nodding to her and following. He moves slowly, but steady, growing more sure with each step. There wasn't much physical pain, but his magical nerves continued to burn and sting. Thankfully, the cushion of the planet's magic meant they hurt less than the might have otherwise. ]}

Hopefully most people are off the planet. Once the sun went down, it... the atmosphere changed. Before I felt curious, there was nothing to be afraid of, and then when the light faded I suddenly knew I had to be gone. I have not felt fear like that in quite a long time.

_{[ He had fought many battles, against demon, beast, man, and dark magician alike. He was no stranger to his life being endangered, but he had not been scared like the was on that planet since he was sixteen and facing a dark magic bent on perverting his mind to his evil will. ]}