[Astra]

Astra fumble with the awkwardness of the linkpearl, trying to figure out how to insert it into the folds of her leporine ears, thinking she has it inserted correctly, she called A'erina, muttering to her as the soft hum from the ringing patched through. Second guessing herself on the timing.

[A'erina]

Nothing was working, nothing was going to plan and nothing was making her feel any better. It was one hell of a sennight for A'erina. First Alkaid showing up, then revelations involving F'loki and Novine, attacking Lami, then causing trouble at the Hearth? A'erina had pushed the sofa in up against the door to her home after locking it. She was down in her lab as she continued her work, taking a break occasionally to make sure no pitchfork wielding angry mob was at her doors.

“Ain't my fault. None of this is my fault. ” She'd repeat every so often, convincing herself that she was not to blame for anything.

She looked at a linkpearl or two on her worktops, wanting to talk to anyone. But everyone was messing with her right now. She couldn't talk to anyone… “ Astra! ” She picked up a linkpearl and put it in her ear, resuming her work for the time being.

A bell or two would pass but eventually a crackle and fizz rung out in her ear as she heard faint mumbling from the familiar Viera's voice. “ You actually gonna talk something I can understand or are you just content to keep talking gibberish?”

[Astra and Viviana]

Astra still fumbling with the linkpearl, nearly frustrated and about to throw it across the room, “come over.” She struggled not sure if she was clear before handing the linkpearl to Viviana, her assistant, “Tell her to come over, and bring the thing for blood.”

Viviana looked at Astra furrowing her brow. She had no issues with the linkpearl, “Hi, A'erina, this is Viviana, I help Astra around the house…” the high pitch voice called out, “No! Not that one you damn bunny, the other one.” She sighed, “Right, come over, bring over the thing for her blood, and are you hungry? I'm making stew.”

Astra was chopping up some veggies and glared at the lalafell, “look here pipsqueak, I know how to cook, I don't need three different knives to cut the greens.” “I'm sorry, but the mistress is being complicated, just please come, and soon.” Viviana barely waited for A'erina before yelling at Astra again

[A'erina]

…And with that, nothing but silence. “ Great. ” A'erina would get her gear together, make sure everything was set-up, Just in case before heading to the door, she would remove all the obstacles which she had barricaded herself in with and peeked her head out slightly to see if there was anything going on outside. Luckily, there's enough people in this world that hate the dry and dusty lands of Thanalan, which suited her just fine, and it mean the streets of the Goblet were realtively quiet sans for a few adults talking, and children playing. She closed the door and grabbed her sword, sheathing it upon her back before grabbing her smaller sword aswell as extra protection. “ Fuck me, these are heavy. ” She'd say as she shuffled towards the door and again peeks out before slowly slinking out, fumbling keys as she turns to lock it. She immediately walks over to her ridiculously pointless fossil dinosaur which she won in an auction, and uses it to hide herself momentarily as she pulls out a small piece of paper with the location to Astra's home written on it. “ Only down there then. Got it.”

It didn't take her long before she was at Astra's door, she began knocking and waited as best as she could to be let into the establishment, because that's what people do.

[Astra and Viviana]

Viviana answered the door, never seeing A'erina before, but to a delight she nearly gushed over the Miqo’te “Oh my! You are a beauty! Oh that looks heavy, please set this down on her card table” she said her with a distaine.

Astra walked out of the kitchen holding a mug, taking a sip, “I could fire you, how would your family like that.” She glared at the lalafell who just stared back at her. Sticking her tongue at the viera before politely returning to A'erina, “She can't fire me, she needs me too much.” Beaming with delight, “Are you hungry? Astra food taste bland with no life, but that what you get for being a …”

“Yes, I know my food taste bad, it either bland or taste like something caught in the wild and burnt.” She grabbed the lalafell by the back of outfit and dragged the squealing lalafell back into the kitchen. Before returning to her friend.

“Please, make yourself at home.”

[A'erina]

“ Fuck… An' I thought I had problems.” A'erina stepped into the house and leaned her sword next to door frame, setting the smaller one next to it “ Stew right? It's always fuckin' stew. I'll have some though!” A'erina has little to no culinary expertise, often just eating fruits and vegetables which are easily obtainable from her various plants or just holding some meat from a recently slain creature over an open flame and hoping its cooked. A'erina looked about the entrance and the rest of the floor. “Nice place you got though, gotta admit, who'd you steal it from?”

[Astra and Viviana]

Astra returned back to her mug, as she sat at the table, sipping from it. “Stew it is!” Vivian poked her head out, and she said, before dashing back into the kitchen.

“I would not say I stole it, the deed was left to my name for a small cottage by my master, upon winning the Spellstone, I had just enough gil to purchase this land.”Astra looked around the barely furnished building. “It has promise.”

Viviana returned with tea from a common leave to Eorzea, setting it on one of the empty chairs, then placing a plain linen on the table, returning the tea set on the table before skittering back to the kitchen for the bowls of stew. Astra topped the mug with the freshly brewed tea.

“Are you not a fan of stew?” Astra mused, then looked over the crate that A'erina brought over, “Wait, you need all that for taking blood?”

[A'erina]

“ No, I mean, yes, I suppose, it's fine but everyone seems to make it like it's the only thing they cane prepare. Not that I'm complaining, no no, I'm sure it tastes wonderful!” A'erina was a bit jittery and skittish as she slowly paced the room. “ This? No just some extra things, just incase, yeah? Gotta be a bit more vigilant is all. You sure you want me to take blood though? Are you not worried I might do something with it or find out something about you? You said you live for a long time though right what if I just take enough that I too could live that long? Ha! I'm kidding! ~~totally isn't~~ Aslong as your are happy to I won't mind having a sample that I can use. Seems there is more to blood than just in being in our bodies, y'know? ” A'erina began mumbling to herself for a short moment, looking over to the kitchen, she was impressed that the Viera had managed to subdue a Lalafellin woman to do her bidding.

[Astra and Viviana]

Astra watched the Miqo'te pace, her demeaner remained calm. She took another sip while listening to A'erina, and her eyes followed toward the Viviana, and then giving a big smile.

“A'erina, what could possibly happen, you find out my blood is actually imbued with star dust from the years of channel aether from the cosmos?” setting her cup down, “Or better yet, that I might be actually cursed to live a long life in service to the god that governs over the jungle, forever bound to their will? Or, I might just be normal, nothing special about me and I have normal blood?”

Viviana hummed as she scooped two bowls of stew, with what looked like archon loaf, carefully setting them on a tray, and bringing them out. Viviane ignored Astra, and spoke to A'erina, “Is your hair always like that? It is so pretty! Maybe you can show me how to do mine like yours.” She giggled as she set the food down for A'erina in a nice fashion manner. then just dropped the rest of the items of the tray infront of Astra, and returned her attention back to A'erina. Then looked at the big ass sword, like glitter in her eyes, she ran over to it to swoon. Not picking up on A'erina's mood “You carry this?”

[A'erina]

A'erina took a hand to her hair, fingers running through it as she pulled it infront of her. “ I don't do anything with it, my hair just always looks like this. it should be red all the way through but as you can see, there's a lot of white too, most of its just dead hairs, no colour at all, even if I were to dye my hair, they'd still remain white.” She'd then see the Lalafell go over to the sword, all excited. “ Most of the time, ever since I got it, that is. It was made by my moth– by my sister as a nameday gift. It's a lot lighter than it seems, most folk would hate to use it but it allows me to maintain some agility in a fight, aswell as the power needed to wield such a thing. The small one is just extra protection. I'd rather have it, and not need it, than need it, and not have it, right? ” She turned her attention to Astra “ Alchemy and blood are a great combination, something I daren't ever toy with but… Readin' some books and acquiring some very interesting blood has given me the incentive to prod, poke and push it a bit further than I had initially planned. ” A'erina would grab the bowl of stew and find herself a seat, turning her nose up at the Archon Loaf as the very smell of fish was already assaulting her nostrils.

[Astra and Viviana]

Astra pulled at the white bits of her hair, “Think we have something in common, but probably for separate reasons.” With Viviana and A'erina speaking of the swords A'erina, Astra made quick work to clean up the mess that the lalafell left, she gritted her teeth and calmed her nerves, muttering under breath, when A'erina turned back to her, she was calm, but briefly boring a look into the back of Viviana's head. “I would not know of the methods of Alchemy, but I do know that there was a few in my passing that studied it, just mainly means to exploit whatever they did.” Astra took the extra loaf, seemingly perfectly content with the fishy smell of it, and indulged herself in the stew. Viviana cleaned up after them, collecting the dirty dishes. “Dumb bunny.” The viera and lalafell exchanged a look, and Astra let out a sigh, “Take the rest home for your family please, Vivi” It was apparent Astra was far more annoyed at this point,

“Oh! Ok, the majestic mistress is allowing me to go home at long last.” Viviana was being over dramatic, and sneered as she recovered a pot with a lid. As she made her way to the door, she smiled at A'erina, “It was a pleasure Miss, hopefully she doesn't use her BULLSHIT deck.”

With a sigh, Astra went to the bookcase, and pulled out a small hidden box that appeared as a book, and brought it to the table.

[A'erina]

A'erina waved goodbye to the Lalafell as she left. “ She seems nice. ” A'erina rubbed the back of her head, she got nothing right now. “ So how's this work? I always thought it was hours lining up to be seen by someone only for them to tell you the shit you already knew… or to tell you stuff that may or may not happen. That's what this is right? A load of hokey nonsense? I'll entertain you though, mostly because I don't want to end up like your Lalafell companion.” A'erina looked at Astra with a serious look upon her face, she goes to ask her a question but refrains momentarily before asking it. “ I can keep my clothes on, right?

[Astra]

Astra pulled a leather bounded deck from the small box, laid them out face up showing A'erina the deck was nothing but painted cards with gold leafing. “They're infused with the same aether I use, the connection to the cosmos.” pausing for a moment to crease her brows, “Why would you want to be naked? Is that something they do around here?” flipping the cards over in a smooth motion, revealing the back to be black paper and plain, not even the common marking. With a flick of her wrist the cards shuffled themselves, flipping and tumbling before resting on top of each other. Astra flipped a couple cards in different directions, “Viviana's family are under contract, they're played by the estate of my mentor Maive, they are paid well. Ideally it was to cover the up care of the properties while she was away. As much as I regret, I am in a similar bidding to the estate. I am grateful for the outcomes, she left me the house, but Viviana is mad because instead of living in discretion as Maive did, I do not. Thus we argue quite a bit, and it got worse after the spellstone.” She cut the deck before setting it in front of A'erina to do the same. “Would you like to split the deck?”

[A'erina]

“I don't want to be naked, you fruit. I'm asking if it's a requirement. I've had unfortunate encounter's in the past involving magic and shit, so I'd prefer to keep my clothes in one piece, preferebly on my body too.” A'erina would pick up the cards and looked at them “This like some Triple Triad stuff?” She held the cards and flicked through them only picking up pieces of what Astra was saying. ” Well, atleast you got a place to live out of it all, unfortunate as the circumstances might have been. Just conveniently you're not far at all too visit either, can't say I'll be comin' over all too much though, really sceptical about all this astrology and stuff. But I trust you for the time being. “ A'erina would holds the card and begins splitting them looking at Astra every second to make sure she was doing it right.

[Astra]

Flipping the first card, inversed spire, Astra furrowed her brow, she turned the next card, inversed spear, finally revealing the last, inversed bole. The cards made a triangle the bottom being past, present, and top was future.  With a sigh. “Before I begin, I understand the desire not to believe in what I do. You did not tell me what troubles you, other than the man you have grown close to. This is an overall reading, if this makes any sense to you, please, I beg you take a deep breath and let it set in first.” She studied the cards closely before going on, motioning to the lower left card, “This one is your past, the spire represents the creation of Byregot’s ascension into the third heaven. However, it was always under attack by Rhalgr, eventually leaving it powerless from the Levin bolts. It being inversed represents you as Rhalgr, and something you hold in your past as a creation that you destroyed.” 

She moved to the right lower card, “This one is for your current, Inversed Spear is the representation of your current state, this card in normal is a symbol for the gate to the sixth heaven, Halone resides in her palace of ice carved from her spear that is made by Menphina moonbean. Halone is fury, Menphina is the lover. In reverse the card shows you to be the lover, and the person to be the fury of a broken heart. The person accepts your gift as the beam to make their spear, and carve their castle from it. We can look at this either one way or another. You can look at this as yourself, you’re split on the fury of your love and casting it out and locking yourself away, locking away your true self. Or you are the one to reject your lover.” . Pointing to the final card, “Finally the future, The bole, but it is inversed, like the rest. The gateway to the first heaven, the World Tree is here, the tree is planed by Nophica, the Matron, and tended by Althyk, the keeper, this is the source of life. Reversed is not good, life will not spring forth from your hands, and it will not be nurtured. Either you prevent the option of life onto others, or you cannot produce life.”  

Astra sat back and watched A'erina absorb the details she gave.

[A'erina]

A'erina sat there listening to Astra, the first one, about her past, sinking in almost immediately, ” No, I never destroyed anything, Everything that happened was never my fault, she's got that all wrong. I knew this was a load of crap… “ The second reading, about the present. Clearly, she was talking about the relationship between herself and F'loki, her face turned red, half because she realised at that moment that he meant more to her than even she realised, the other half out of pure anger. ” What would you know, huh? I'm not locking myself away I just need some time to think, that's all. This is stupid… “ Finally, Astra got around to reading the future, she held herself together just fine at this point, no matter how accurate these readings were, it was still a load of nonsense that only an idiot would believe, until it hit her in the head like many a Grindstone opponent.

“No!” A'erina leapt out of the chair, hiding behind it holding her arm out and pointing a finger at Astra. ” Y-You're talking shit. This is all hokey stuff, like I said, none of this is true, you know it. Y-you can't get all t-this from… a-all this from a card, that's absurd! Load of shit, this is! “ A'erina took cover behind the chair, A hand placed on the back of it, visibly a bit shaken. ” You know too much Astra… “

[Astra]

Her chin on her knuckles listening to A'erina panic, this deck was never wrong, it always saw what needed to be seen.”If this was hokey, then why are you panicking? I only know what the cards show.“ Astra looked to the cards that hummed with aether, “You don't have believe any of this, but heed the warning. If the lovers qualm your current, it could be something you are not in love with yourself. Embrace your flaw and love it.” She sighed, taking a sip of tea. “There is to many 'What Ifs' with in the world to know what is meant to be you. The future is unsure, but a small glimpse of light can show you a direction on what steps you can take” Waiting for A'erina to reclaim the seat “I followed that light, and here I sit, in front of you. Please, A'erina, take a deep breath and sit. I am not going to hurt you, and I sure hell do not want you taking samples of my blood when you are acting like a cornered kit.”

[A'erina]

A'erina tries a few deep breaths, trying to compose herself. She slowly walks back to the chair, all while keeping her eyes on Astra. After her little outburst, she manages to calm herself enough that she is able to listen to Astra's words more clearly. ” So… What am I supposed to do? This doesnt make sense to me at all.“

[Astra]

Astra studied A'erina movements, how shaken she was, and unnerved.”Let's start with the past then, did you make something, and someone destroyed, or did you make something, and out of a rage, did you destroy your own creation? This could be you and you, this does not have be you and someone else. The key thing to take away is that something was created that was glorious, and jealous was a factor of its destruction.“

[A'erina]

A'erina sits there with a puzzled expression on her face. ” I never destroyed anything, not that I know of anyway. Do you mean my previous relationship? Do you mean my Inner Beast? And what of Jealousy? I'm not jealous of anyone, never have been. “ She'd play with her fingers to try and put her in the right headspace, thinking of her past and how she never ruined everything, it was always other things that ruined everything for her, not her ruining things. ” Eleborate on this, Astra. It's fine to say I destroy things but I can honestly say I've never been one to do such a thing. “

[Astra]

“What was your first attempt at creating something? How did the results turn out? What caused you to create this item? Also, what was the first time you successfully created something? This could of been a potion, or poison or some kind of trinket in your basement. This does not have to be a relationship, it could be something you built with your hands and created it into existence?”

[A'erina]

“I make stuff all the time, Astra. I'm somewhat of an alchemist, I make things all day. You'd have to narrow it down. The first time I made something properly was back when I was living with my parents, my old man had me making arrows, I can't make them as good anymore but he used to say that they were pretty remarkable. Only other time that I… Well, we created something from scratch, it was a joint effort, was a suppressant. The cause is my lack of ability to control something that is actually more common than I thought, surely you've heard of people with an inner beast? or out in the Azim Steppe, they call it somethin' else out there, but I can't recall it. “A'erina fishes in her satchel and pulls out a vial of it, handing it to Astra. ” See? it's nothing noteworthy but it worked.”

[Astra]

Astra took the vial, looking it over carefully,”I am aware of this inner beast, it is when you become filled with the rage of a beast, and you are unable to control with out years of mastery, I've read about it before, but do I have a book on it now.“Astra seemed deep in thought,”When the creator creation is rendered useless by an outside force,“she tilted her head and studied A'erina “I assume you have beem using this for a while now? When was the first time you found out you had this power?”

[A'erina] A'erina leans forwards, resting her elbows on her knees, holding her hands together. ” …For as long as I can remember. “ She looks at the vial. I've stopped taking that, I was working on controlling it. Honestly, I felt like it was working, but, stuff recently made me realise I never was in control… But I've always had it, it's always been here. The power I feel, I could take on anyone, but the cost is everything else… I lose control of myself, my actions, my emotions and feelings. No one is my friend, no one is my enemy, I can't control it and then I do stupid things like hurt people. ”

A'erina leans into the chair and relaxes herself somewhat. “ I'd say I was about 12 or so… Sometimes I see it, even though no one else can, it looks like me, when I was that age, y'know? I've asked a buncha people for help but nothing really came of it all, I was close and I learned things about it I didn't know. ” A'erina looks at Astra “ What's this got to do with uh… ” She pointed at the Inversed Spire card “ That one, What's this got to do with that, huh? ”

[Astra]

Astra looked between the cards, before answering. Studying them, Inversed Spire, Inversed Spear, and Inversed Bole. Looking up at A'erina,“The Inner Beast is great power, with the proper mastery, you can control it. Let's say this all is directed at the inner beast”Astra waved her hands across the cards,“You're past is blessed with a great power, in a sense, a creation by the gods, if you will. You have created an outside force to prevent the devastation of the power onto others, a means for you to stay in control. This is in the past, you disabled the inner beast. Then the Current,” Pointing toward the Inverse Spear,“Even though this can be with your current situation, let place that aside, and look at your power, I mentioned before, you could be locking away your true self, the power you harness with the inner beast.”Astra held up the suppressant to the light, then passed it back to A'erina.“Even more possible that you could damaging yourself with preventing your body to flourish with the life it needs to feed the inner beast, which may be preventing you from growing into the powerful warrior you have trapped inside. Past, Present, and Future all played from one with a power you suppress. What if you modified the elixir to allow you to tame your beast?”

[A'erina]

“Easier said than done.” A'erina ponders over the idea for a few seconds “I don't think it would work, I've tried various different things to modify it but it either doesnt work or the effects are lessened.” A'erina tries to understand the words being spouted by Astra. “ You think I don't know what I've done to myself? I'm aware of what's happening, but I can't control it so its either let it run rampant or keep it asleep. I've got no options left, it only get's me into trouble anyway. ”

[Astra]

“You are the expert of the Alchemy and the chemistry”Astra sat there for a moment looking over the cards before replying, lost in thought. She ran her hand through her hair. Then offering a smile and a chuckle,“You are quiet a complex individual.”Astra locked eyes with A'erina,“What did you mean that I know too much?”

[A'erina]

“Complex? Hardly. The amount of shit I've seen… I'm the least complex person I know… Sure, I've got my own problems, but everyone else? I'm telling you, I'm about as normal as can be.” A'erina pointed at the cards “ These cards of yours, they let you know too much. You probably know more about me than some people do, not that I openly discuss things all that often.” A'erina held her mix in her hand for a moment longer before stowing it back away. “It's something I intend to resolve, with or without help, it's gotten me into so much trouble in the past and more recently too. I'd rather not lose anyone again over it. ”

[Astra]

Astra seemed excited, sitting on the edge of her seat, “This is just barely touching the surface. What if I could get something that actually gave me visions? Now that would be a marvel!” The excitement seem to level a bit, “A'erina, you know where to find me when you are ready for help. But it may come at a cost, a lesson for a lesson?” She smiled as she leaned against the table. “Let us get on with the blood thing. You wish for a sample.” she grabbed a knife, full on intent cutting her arm open to bleed out.

[A'erina]

A'erina nods at Astra at her sudden excitement, a small grin on her face. “Of course, I'll take you up on that offer, can't promise anythin' though.” Her eyes widened as Astra pulled out a knife “Fuck!” She quickly got up and swatted it out of her hands. “Shit, if you were so keen you should have just said so! Hold still, this shouldn't hurt, or it might, I don't care. “She then jabbed a small needle into Astra's arm as blood poured into a connected vial. “See? You're fine.” She forced a cork into the mouth of the vial and stashed it away in her satchel as she lifted it up and over her shoulder. She dusted her trousers off for a moment and looked at Astra. “I've got something I'd like to discuss with you, but now is not the time, but rest assured I will find you when I want to talk, so don't be too hard to find, 'kay?” A'erina headed towards the door, grabbed and stowed her weapons before putting a hand on the door and swung it open, she raised her hand and offered her usual wave to Astra, “Catch ya later, Ast. ” as she departed the home and made for a quick jog back to her own place just up a few paths.

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