Circling Drains - 02/14/21
| Note - A'sura [Not Named Yet] played by Eligor |
[Eligor]
Eligor had been in his house all day, unable to shake out of his funk. Something had been eating at him, but he did not have the time to figure out exactly what it was that was bothering him. Even visiting Onini for the holiday had not done much to recover his mood, and having finally given up he for once decided to simply…do nothing. With the little miqo'te in his care, he mostly just lay around the fireplace with her, turning his brain off as much as possible.
[Novine]
The relative peace of the moment he had found would undoubtedly be interrupted by Novine crashing into the house as usual, struggling through the door while wrestling a few tomes. She hooked her foot over the door and gave it a sort of kick to close it behind her as she snuck her foot back inside before it closed on her, the girl staggering into the entryway. Quickly surveilling the room and seeing that her usual spot by the fireplace was also occupied by her Father and the child, she tensed a bit, bracing and tempering herself for whatever conversation would happen before kicking her shoes off and heading over there, placing the tomes behind the cushioned area before stepping onto and subsequently settling herself into the low cushioning.
“Babysitting?”
[Eligor]
The little red-headed girl seemed to not appreciate the sudden series of loud events, jumping into the nearby little bed area to hide and peek around. Eligor on the other hand….did not seem to much be responding at all. He rolled over lazily, giving off a low growl and rolling his eyes at nothing.
“Not exactly, just…thinking I guess.”
[Novine]
Novine observed the little girl running and hiding but didn't seem to mind, feeling slightly territorial of the space and not feeling like it was her job to make her feel comfortable.
“'Bout what?”
[Eligor]
“Just….I don't know.”
“I realized that I do not have the ability to comfort people. If it is a learned skill, then I have pitifully failed to acquire it.”
“Seems like the…hmm….norm I suppose. My affinity for destruction.”
[Novine]
She lets out a short hum, looking at him with her usual tilted head as if trying to look into another dimension to empathize.
“Well, I think I'm bad at it too. Not that that's really helpful I guess,” she says, shifting a bit like she wanted to move closer to him, but pausing, still reading the moment. “Do you find you need it? Comforting? Or like… do you like being comforted when someone tries?”
[Eligor]
“The suggestion is that others need it.”
“Which makes sense I suppose.”
“But my teacher did not teach me that. I did not feel that growing up. Even in my earliest memories comfort was not there. Every single time I got close to it, something unpleasant happened. Something I probably would have avoided if I had not ceased my vigil.”
[Novine]
“Yeah, guess not from what you've told me. But… I dunno, I don't think it's something that's too bad to learn. I guess most of it seems to be just… listening n' not judging people when they say stuff. If they ask for an opinion or advice you give it I guess. If you've got a story that helps, you can share it, but… I dunno, otherwise it's mostly just being around.” She stratches at the upholstery a bit, pulling the fabric and pushing it with her long nail. “Maybe that's just me though. Like I said, I'm bad at it too!”
[Eligor]
“That just sounds like it varies from person to person.”
“But fine. If lying is what it takes, I can do that I suppose. I will just treat it like work.”
[Novine]
Her lips work in some kind of contemplative way, as if chewing on the truth he was expressing. She couldn't fault him for that - it was her creed after all, to be honest in all things. Hesitantly, like a cat trying to get used to an unfamiliar house guest, she does crawl over to his area of the cushions, laying near him in an aloof sort of way.
“Yeah, I guess sometimes it's lying. Maybe it'll start as lying n' then it'll be not lying if you get used to it. Y'know, you'll get more perceptive of people needing it maybe n' you'll do it automatically.”
[Eligor]
“If I have to turn friends and allies into enemies for their sanity…hm.”
He rolls over and sits up, looking to the miqo'te who proceeds to tackle him back onto his back.
“I suppose I can give it a continued attempt for now.”
“If it has real merit in the long term then I will consider it a mistake of my own experiences.”
[Novine]
“Doesn't Onini comfort you though? It's like that. People like it n' it helps. Worth a shot,” she says as she kind of eyes the Miqo'te child in a bit of a jealous way for her lack of boundaries. She curls into a ball and looks at the fire instead.
[Eligor]
“Not really. We enjoy each other's company, but we do not go out of our way to make each other feel better. That is just a natural consequence of being near one another. I have no reason nor desire to lie to her face just to make her feel better. It seems worse than lying to make someone feel worse. Like you think them so incompetent and weak that they need you to fabricate something for them to feel more at ease.”
“It feels an insult, like speaking during battle.”
[Novine]
“Well, then you're probably not as bad as it as you think you are 'cause you can do it for her without trying. You probably just don't care about the other people's problems. Can't really get the way everyone ticks I guess,” she says in a slightly rueful way.
[Eligor]
“Probably. Perhaps thinking about it as disrespectful intent is the start of the problem.”
“More importantly, did you start working on the alternatives to your construct problem yet?”
[Novine]
“Yep! Been kinda focusing on it non-stop since we talked about it. Was bugging me, n' I figured I oughtta jump on it now that I know what to do.”
[Eligor]
“And your progress?”
[Novine]
“Just about done with the first draft - hadn't gotten to really test much of it yet, but it's almost there.”
“There was a lot to redo n' it's boring work.”
[Eligor]
“It is boring?” The miqo'te grabbed his hand, prompting him to pet her.
[Novine]
“It's only boring in that I already know what I want it to do, I just have to do the work to make it do it. The inspiring part already happened so now it's just the work part.” She glances to the Miqo'te and her expression gets a little grumpier as she intentionally shifts to limit her view of the two of them.
[Eligor]
“Hmm….I see. Ah, you work with Blue, do you not? Has your impression of her changed at all with her continued absence? If I remember correctly her husband was taking over her tasks at your headquarters.”
[Novine]
“She wants me to teach her stuff about aether. She seems kinda… naive about stuff. I found out she wasn't being compensated or anything so I'm kinda surprised she was hanging around as long as she was, honestly. As long as stuff's getting taken care of, she can do whatever, but she'll be back soon. Didn't have a big opinion of her before she left, and it's kinda the same. She's kinda fun though.”
[Eligor]
“That is disturbing.”
[Novine]
“Which part?”
[Eligor]
“The movements and decisions.”
“You might take it as an insult, but why does she suddenly wish to learn from you?”
[Novine]
“'Cause Lami taught her n' she probably realized she's not that good at stuff.”
[Eligor]
“Alright but consider her circle of friends.”
“There is that healer for one. I remember some annoying child with carbuncles as well.”
“But she chose you. What did you demonstrate that makes her want to learn from you specifically?”
“You are not exactly what would be considered nice either. So why?”
[Novine]
“She's seen me at the Spellstone, so maybe she noticed I'm better than the others. N' you're not nice a lot of the time but people ask to learn stuff or make them stuff 'cause you're good at it.”
[Eligor]
“I cannot trust her.”
“It seems far more likely that she is procuring weapons than being innocent.”
“But unlike her husband, she is more likely to use those weapons in my eyes.” He stops petting the girl, who promptly got up and ran to the kitchen for something.
[Novine]
“So you don't think I should help her then?”
[Eligor]
“I'm not stopping her. I am just considering the future for my apprentice.”
“I suppose if she does turn a fang at me, you've no need to pursue revenge anyway.” The little girl returns with what appears to be a bowl of soup. Instead of eating it however she pushed it against Eligor's chest repeatedly until he grabbed it and took scooped some of the hot soup out of the bowl with a spoon and blew on it, growling irritably before stuffing it into her mouth.
[Novine]
Novine crosses her arms a little tighter in her little ball, turning further away in a pointed sort of way, attempting to telegraph her displeasure.
“Why wouldn't I?”
[Eligor]
“She is your friend for one. Whatever grudge she has with me need not extend to you.”
[Novine]
“She's not like a close friend or anything. She doesn't even know anything about me. She's just nice to everyone, far as I can tell. Kinda air-headed, like she's just floating around. You're more important.”
[Eligor]
“I also have a lot of enemies. Are you going to hunt them all down if I am killed one day?”
“I think you should cherish your friends. Even moreso if they are good enough to kill me.”
[Novine]
She lays on her stomach and buries her face into the cushion, flopping her arms out in front of her as if she were trying to smother herself, her long ponytail spread across her body like some ominous pond vegetation on top of a floating dead body, clearly frustrated.
“Why do we have to talk about you dying all the time!?”
[Eligor]
“I think you brought the conversation there before I did really.”
“Are you feeling sick or something? You keep squirming.”
[Novine]
“How did I do it? You were talking about Blue being able to kill you. I didn't bring it up at all!” She ignores the second question for a moment.
[Eligor]
“I said you have no reason to seek revenge if she does something to me.”
“You asked why.”
[Novine]
She grumbles. “Well, that's not really me bringing up you dying, but whatever.” She folds herself into her less-tantrum shaped ball again. “Are you adopting her?”
[Eligor]
“Why would I adopt Blue?”
[Novine]
“Not Blue. The girl climbing all over the place.”
[Eligor]
He blinked for a while, seeming not to understand what she was talking about until he stuffed another spoonful of soup into the miqo'te girl's mouth.
“…..Ah. This brat.”
[Novine]
“Yeah. Her.”
[Eligor]
“No, just taking care of her until I can move her to a proper caretaker.”
“She's moving around more now so thats something at least.”
[Novine]
“Oh. Okay. That's good I guess.” she says in a conciliatory kind of way. “What happened to her?”
[Eligor]
“She was being used to create the pyrefly drug that has been circulating.”
“But she had been strapped to equipment for so long that she had begun to rot when my apprentice found her.”
“I was more or less the only option for a decent chance at survival, so now I need to take responsibility for it.” Noticing the soup was finally gone, he pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and began wiping the girl's mouth despite her audible protesting.
“You do not want more siblings?”
[Novine]
She flips to her back and sort of starfishes on the cushions, looking over to the two of them. “Well… I dunno, seems weird to adopt a small kid if you're having doubts about comforting people. I don't mind having more sisters just… I dunno… they're gonna want stuff from you. You'd be having to do the whole lying thing you don't wanna do more. Seems weird you'd keep doing it.”
[Eligor]
“So you think I've lied to you this whole time?”
[Novine]
“No,” she says. “You've been honest all the time, n' that's why I know you're not good at the comforting thing. 'N that's fine, I just dunno why if you're so bothered by the idea of doing it you keep surrounding yourself with people who're gonna want it from you.” She turns to the side and curls into the corner bit of the cushions as if to surround herself with as many cushiony, secure walls as possible.
[Eligor]
“Well to be frank its the only reason why I considered it to have merit at all.”
“Your sisters in the past would always make me do things that I did not think too much about at the time. Like giving praise for things or rewards and the like. I thought I was just supposed to do it.”
“When I go see Raziel sometimes she will force me to hug her until she falls asleep.”
“If these things qualify as comfort and its been necessary to make me perform these things, it is better I learn it so I do not need to be told to do so, or when.”
[Novine]
“Hmph,” she says a huffily. “Well, guess I won't force you to do anything then. Don't wanna make you do stuff you don't wanna do.”
[Eligor]
“Such as?”
[Novine]
She pushes her feet against the cushion, pushing her body away from it as if wrestling with her frustrations and trying to relax at the same time.
“Having conversation that aren't about work. Not getting weird when I just wanna know about you. Showing some kinda physical evidence that you don't just tolerate me instead of just taking it for granted that I know you want me around. N' I do know, but…” She grumbles and gives up, frustrated with her own inability to articulate her needs. “I dunno, I'm just being stupid, prolly.”
[Eligor]
He begins playing with the girl's ears.
“Yeah, maybe you are being stupid. But it is probably more my fault that you have these misunderstandings at all in the first place. You cannot expect any other result if the one you are learning from cannot deliver education properly.”
[Novine]
She grumbles again. “What d'you mean?”
[Eligor]
“Your emotions. You seem to think that you should be bottling them up for some reason. You also have assumptions about how I feel about you or what I want from you, but you have not really spoken to me directly about these things. There is no need to be so afraid of me, but somewhere I suppose I gave the impression that you should have this fear.”
[Novine]
She reaches for a long strand of her ponytail, one of the unbraided portions, and pulls it over her shoulder into her little sheltered corner, starting to focus on it and braid it as she speaks. Her voice was a little softer, a pouty mumble which was a lot different than her usual boistrous nature.
“Well yeah… I didn't want it to know certain stuff. N' I felt bad complaining about thing, or taking things out on you 'cause you already were doing a lot trying to keep your own emotions in check. I thought it'd get you all…. riled up if I just went off whenever I wanted. It likes it when that happens so… yeah.”
She curls up a little tighter as she braids away.
[Eligor]
“Well do you want me to lie to you about how I feel?”
[Novine]
“No.”
[Eligor]
“I don’t want you to lie either.”
“I think part of that is being allowed to express that.”
[Novine]
“I'm not lying… I just don't… always say everything.”
[Eligor]
“Did you not get angry at me for not telling you everything in the past?”
[Novine]
She kicks at the back part of the cushion a bit, digging her toes into it, letting her silence hang. “….Yeah.”
[Eligor]
“Hm. I suppose I am better able to work with brats. They are clear about what they want.”
The girl places his hand on her head again, prompting him to resume petting.
“…There are no mysteries that must be pried open. It’s simply clear.”
[Novine]
She looks over her shoulder and sees him interacting with the small Miqo'te. Feeling a bit goaded into it, she pushes herself up and moves close to him, deciding to lay close and lay her head on his lap and curl into her recalcitrant ball.
[Eligor]
He states at her for a while, trying to think things through.
“You are tired?”
[Novine]
“No. I just like when you're here. And it's comfy.”
[Eligor]
“I see…”
He stretches his arms a little and pops his neck.
“I’m not very good at naming others. I don’t think this child would like anything I come up with.”
[Novine]
“You asking me if I have any ideas?”
[Eligor]
“No, I’m saying things that come to my mind.”
[Novine]
“Oh. Have you named anyone before? Like any of my sisters?”
[Eligor]
“I named Raziel.”
[Novine]
“Well what's wrong with that?”
She wiggles into place now that she knew she was safe to settle in a bit, watching the fire dance as usual.
[Eligor]
“Her true name might not be something she likes.”
“I had a name for you as well but it ended up being unnecessary.”
[Novine]
“Oh. What were you gonna call me?”
[Eligor]
“I also gave Alkaid her name.”
He scratches his head. “Nothing especially important now, just something I’d thought up.”
[Novine]
“I wanna know!” she says with a grin. “Maybe I'll make it my last name if I like it enough! I don't have one n' all.”
[Eligor]
“If you need a family name one already exists.”
[Novine]
“Oh. Does it? Does everyone else use it?”
[Eligor]
“Your sisters do yes. I thought you were told.”
[Novine]
“Nope! Guess I could've asked, just didn't really think I needed one. But the more I talk to people, the weirder it is that I'm just Novine and nothing else.”
[Eligor]
“Who said so?”
[Novine]
“No one said anything, just in certain circumstances it seems like there's a little expectation. It's not been a big thing. But it's also felt like I wasn't connected to stuff too when I hear other people say theirs.”
[Eligor]
“Darkshines. The name is Darkshines.”
[Novine]
“Do you use it too? Or is it just for your children?”
[Eligor]
“I have not used it. I did not want to indirectly put any of you in danger. Your sisters have been captured in the past.”
[Novine]
“Ah, I see. Well, I'll probably use that then. I still wanna know what you were gonna call me though.”
[Eligor]
He stopped petting the Miqo'te, going stiff.
“Either Stola or Alianor.”
[Novine]
She hums in recognition and consideration. “Ah… that's where it came from then. I hadn't heard Stola, but Alianor… or Alia rather.”
[Eligor]
“…..I see. My apologies then.”
[Novine]
“Why apologize?”
[Eligor]
“I did not mean to give you an unpleasant name. Not that it matters now anyway.”
[Novine]
“Who said it was unpleasant? I thought it was pretty. I had to use it for awhile,” she says flipping onto her back with her head still on his lap, brushing through the end of her hair with her fingers, a lot more casual and at-ease than usual. “Has some weird memories attached to it I guess, but the name itself is fine.”
[Eligor]
“I just thought a name similar to my sister’s might fit.”
“Raziel reminds me a lot of her as I remembered actually. Makes it difficult to say no.”
[Novine]
She giggles a bit. “You're just weak 'cause she's cute.”
[Eligor]
“All of my daughters are cute, but…”
“She makes me remember things.”
“Does your head hurt there? I’m not exactly very comfortable unlike Onini.”
[Novine]
She grins at being called indirectly cute, taking the compliment and letting her ego run with it.
“Nope, doesn't hurt. It's comfy enough. Not expecting you to be a pillow or anything.”
[Eligor]
“I discovered that it is….”
He slumped forward a bit, looking into the fire with an unblinking gaze.
“….Difficult to hold back when creating weapons and armor. There seems to be a…minimum standard I wish to meet or I am unsatisfied.”
“But that standard is too dangerous.”
[Novine]
“Yeaaah, you probably shouldn't make so many dangerous things for people. Do they even want them to be that strong?”
She wiggles around some more, seeming to enjoy the process of getting to snuggle in judging by the frequency of times she decides to change her position.
[Eligor]
“Your little bodyguard wants me to make him a blade as well you know.”
“Who wants a weak weapon to begin with?”
[Novine]
“Yeah, he was saying that. I guess no one wants a weak weapon, but I don't think he had something world destroying or earth-shattering in mind. Did you talk to him about it then?”
[Eligor]
“I said I would think about it. His thirst is too muddled for my liking.”
[Novine]
“Yeah… not sure he has a reason for it exactly. He still seems kinda lost n' purposeless sometimes so I think sometimes he's just grasping at stuff that he thinks might help.”
[Eligor]
“I recognize exactly what it is, and grasping is not the word.”
“You should be certain you wish to lead with that one, or you will create quite the monster.”
[Novine]
“What d'you mean?” she asks, crossing her legs at the knee and kicking her foot, causing the vibration to likely transfer to her father as she lazily wiggles it around.
[Eligor]
“The easiest explanation would be singular focus.”
[Novine]
“Yeah, I can see that. Doesn't really seem to think or talk about much aside from whatever his goal is, but I don't even think he's super passionate about the goals either. I think he's just doing it 'cause it's something to do. But maybe not.” She shrugs against him.
[Eligor]
“It’s an alien perspective because it lacks selfishness as a factor.”
“Acts seemingly with no self interest tend to be the most dangerous because there is no visible consequence, it instead becomes a tangled puzzle of threads.”
[Novine]
She hums at that, thinking it over. “Yeah I guess… Kinda nihilistic I guess. Don't care what happens so you can just create chaos if you want. He doesn't seem to like chaos though. Even when I was asking about why he wanted to know stuff about magic, he was just interested in the practical stuff.”
[Eligor]
“His vision has purpose, but that purpose is currently dependent on you. That’s the problem.”
[Novine]
“He does seem kinda… Preoccupied with me lately I guess. Not that the attention is unwelcome, I just don't know where it came from or what to do with it really.”
[Eligor]
“Then I suppose you should hope I am wrong.”
[Novine]
“So what's the worst you see happening?”
[Eligor]
“He might become like me.”
[Novine]
“Well… That's not so bad sometimes. I wouldn't be around like I am if you weren't like you are. Lots of people have stuff they don't like about themselves.”
Her voice is a bit softer, not really used to using it to make people feel better. She curls back up on her side and snuggles in again as I'd to punctuate her point.
[Eligor]
“You did not meet the me from before. It was much more….dangerous then.”
[Novine]
“Hm, well… Guess not! I don't see him going anywhere bad though. He's too… Hm… Peaceful I think. But I guess I'll keep an eye out if you're worried.”
[Eligor]
He laughs, but does not say anything further, instead bending over to pull Novine into a half hug, half headlock thing.
“I'm not particularly concerned about you being in danger from whatever change he goes through.”
“It is more whatever might be considered an enemy for you that would need to flee.”
[Novine]
She closes her eyes and makes a little hum of approval as if finally getting the thing she wanted.
“Ah, you're saying you'd go after him? Guess you do threaten all the boys that cross my path so I shouldn't be surprised!”
[Eligor]
“It would not be me going after anyone. There is no real need to worry on it for now.”
He lets go, stretching a little.
“I suppose I should get this girl to her caretaker.”
[Novine]
She takes the hint and pushes herself to a seated position, stretching a bit too.
“Oh, she's not staying longer?” she asked optimistically, not wanting her to.
[Eligor]
“She is a risk, and only one that I acquired by chance rather than intent.”
[Novine]
“Where's she going?”
[Eligor]
“Annu. She seems intent on being of use so for now I'll have her care for the girl.”
“Nowhere else in particular she can go that where the danger is acceptable for that person.”
[Novine]
“You think they'll come back for her now that you got her? Seems like they didn't care about her that much.”
[Eligor]
“She is the source of the drug.”
[Novine]
“Yeah, I know - so why'd the person let her go so easily or not take care of her?”
[Eligor]
“I can guess, but I'm not sure really. I think they intended to force this child to die. From what I gathered, they were part of an elaborate trap that involved a lot of….cardio. Perhaps her death was meant to serve a higher purpose….or she already obtained the data she needed.”
[Novine]
She grumbles and looks at the small child. “What a waste. People who use people like that… I dunno, they're the worst. Ah well, at least you helped save her! Lotsa potential n' all!”
[Eligor]
He laughs.
“I've done something similar in the past.”
[Novine]
“Well, I guess you were the worst back then!” she responds with a shrug. “It's fine to get things you need from others, but at least take care of 'em. Never know when they'll come in handy again.”
[Eligor]
“Onini and I could tell stories that might give you nightmares.”
He chuckles.
[Novine]
She sighs and leans over and, in the interest of sharing feelings and being open, goes ahead and gives him a hug.
“Sure you could! I've got my own too, but mine were simulations so…. I dunno, doesn't count in a way I guess. It's how I learned it's a waste!”
[Eligor]
“I suppose.” He gives her a quick hug back before grabbing the miqo'te girl's hand.
“I'll probably be asked for a name though. I really should think of something temporary at least.”
“Do you need anything before I return?”
“Also, how powerful do you want his sword to be? I doubt he will have a proper answer for scale.”
[Novine]
“Well, I can come up with some if you're stuck. Yuvi pops in my head at first but…” She stops as he keeps going. “Ah… I don't think so. Gonna start doing some stuff with the organization. I'll need to know what you wanna do if you want me to help with that stuff you asked about too so I can decide how much to split things or if you need the full force.”
She tilts her head as she thinks about the sword. “Hmm….Well, he just wants to be able to have channeling aether be a little easier. I don't think he wants anything world shattering. Strong enough to help protect me, but not strong enough to beat any of us I guess. Does that help?”
[Eligor]
“Full force?”
“And I suppose that helps, but beating me should not be terribly difficult. I do not think I should scale it back that far.”
“I'll try to scale it to you instead.”
[Novine]
“Yeah, would you need me to devote a lot of the organization to the whole thing, or do you just need a few people?”
She nods. “Alright, sounds good. I don't want him to be able to beat me with it for sure.”
[Eligor]
“I just need resources I suppose. I can get people for myself if you actually want to pursue it.”
[Novine]
“Yeah, I do. We can get 'em for you.”
[Eligor]
“Then I'll get to that. Be careful.”
[Novine]
“Yep! You too!” She crawls back over to the pile of books she had brought to the house and starts to arrange them around the fire area so she could begin her work.
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