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

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vanyel ashkevron

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

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

_{[ 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. ]}

Well… that went better than I had hoped…

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_{[ 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.

[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?

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.

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?

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.

[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.

_{[ 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. ]}

['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?

_{[ He doesn't question Ray's generosity. He takes the mug, pouring a
generous amount of honey into the drink and stirring before taking a heavy
sip. A relieved sigh left him as the liquid settled hot in his belly,
reaching for the sandwich and taking a dainty bite. ]}

I was exploring on the planet. It was getting dark as I was heading back for the shuttle, but I didn't think much of it since I can produce mage-lights. And then... something came. I am not sure what. I never got a good look at it, or them. I believe it was them. I just knew I need to run, so I did.

[He's tempted to roll his eyes at the way Vanyel is treating his food: if it were up to him he'd been scarfing it down all in one go, no holds barred. He won't comment, though, lets him do this at his own pace.]

What, like-- aliens? Monsters?

Perhaps. I never got a good look at them. They were shadows, but there was such malicious intent...

_{[ He paused, shuddering violently at the memory, reaching for his tea
to take another soothing gulp. ]}

[He clenches his jaw, looks at his hands where they're clasped on the table.]

You're not gonna go back there, are you?

_{[ He shook his head, taking a bigger bite of the sandwich this time
now that his stomach was settling. ]}

Not during the night, at least. It's fascinating during the day, and there's magic down there. Lots of it. More than I've ever felt in a single place before, not even a Vale.

's that a good thing? For you guys, I mean? [You magic types]

I would say so. Working my magic without an outside source is draining and difficult. It is like... what is the concept? A battery? Yes, like recharging a battery. Opening the gate took a lot of my own magic. If nothing else, I would like to go down and absorb some more to replenish myself sooner, in case of emergency.

_{[ His reserves being depleted meant it would be harder to cast
defensive charms and offensive spells should they be attacked, not to
mention hurt. Not like the Gates, but the magical nerves within him still
felt entirely to raw. ]}

[He nods at the metaphor, leaning back. That works for him, apparently!]

Maybe you should take someone with you for this stuff.

Several of my friends were down there. I think you might like it, Ray. It is unlike anything I have ever seen.

_{[ Beautiful and fascinating, if obviously dangerous in the extreme at
night. ]}

Nah, I don't-- [He hunches a little, shakes his head] That don't sound like my kinda place, Van. Spooky.

_{[ Eyebrows rose and scrunched in the same motion, watching Ray. He had
thought the man curious, but he supposed it was daunting, going down to a
new planet with strange creatures. His own world had such creatures, he had
fought such creatures, so it was not quite so odd. ]}

It is all right. I have other companions who are intrigued.

_{[ He reached out, touching his arm with the tips of his fingers.
]}

Did something happen to you?

Ray looks up from the table, goosebumps rising on his arm where Vanyel is touching him.]

No, I mean, nothing like that, I just-- You looked like you were in pain, and you got all that magic to help you out, and I'm just...

[Just a scrawny Chicago flatfoot.]

The pain is an effect of the Gate I created, not those things that were chasing me. Though I have no doubt they could have caused damage if they wished.

It's true I have magic, but just because I have magic doesn't mean that I am suddenly that much more competent or ready than someone who knows what they are doing. Simple solutions are often better than those that require magic.

[He considers it for another second, and then looks up, hesitantly]

You'd really want me to come with?

I would not have asked if I did not. I would not want to risk staying into the sunset, but during the day the planet is rather lovely. We should take the chance to explore while we can.

[He takes a deep breath, and then it's like he's back in Chicago, moving into one adventure or another just because Fraser said: bad guys, Ray, over there.

He nods, and twitches a little smile] Alright. Okay, let's go for it.

Tomorrow I should be well enough to go back down. Having my magic recharged should do me good as well.

_{[ He smiled at Ray, glad he was coming, squeezing his forearm gently.
]}

Thank you for the tea and sandwich, Ray.

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