Time for a Break

[alphacraft]

Who: Odile and OPEN
What: Just chillin
When: After Suri-fight
Where: The cafe and/or inn
Warnings: Will add if needed

The consequences of Enciodes' little mission have been far-reaching, it seems. Odile herself is satisfied that she's learned a great deal (though grumpy that some of it had to be learned at all) and relatively un-traumatized from the whole ordeal, but people around town are clearly not doing well. So while she normally keeps mostly to herself, this week she's decided to get out and about.

It's still bitterly cold, and she still wants to just sit somewhere warm and read a book, so the inn and the cafe will have to do for "out and about".

She makes herself comfortable, sipping occassionally from a cup of tea as she reads, but makes a point to look up whenever someone comes by or starts talking and nod, or raise her eyebrows, or otherwise signal that she is open to having company.

Comments

[alphacraft]

"I saw enough, I think," she says with a nod. She's already gotten a lot of answers on that end from Clive, so she has some understanding of how things work.

"How does the radius of effect compare between your 'priming' and Clive's?"

[kingincognito]

Radius... hmm. Joshua pauses to think for a moment looking aside at the floor.

"If I were standing, I would say that mine is... roughly double my height in any direction, beginning from my feet. Maybe just a slight bit more, but not by much, if any."

[alphacraft]

Her eyebrows shoot up again. Impressive! He gave her a sensible answer without resorting to dinnerware.

"I see... Much more managable."

[kingincognito]

Joshua laughs at that, settling back in his chair.

"As compared to my brother's? His is far more dangerous than mine, I believe."

[alphacraft]

"Certainly. It was your magic that protected us last time, wasn't it?" It's difficult to strategize around a power that comes with a friendly-fire hazard.

[kingincognito]

"It was. Shields are also part of my arsenal, though if my concentration is broken, it will fail. But they've withstood a good amount of firepower before."

Unfortunately, he can't shield his own priming flames, but. Such is life.

[alphacraft]

"A valuable skill. What is the cost, then, that you've been warned away from magic in general?"

[kingincognito]

Joshua pauses, lifting a hand to rub at his chest. It seems an idle motion, but...

"In our world, the more that a Bearer uses their magic, the more it advances the Curse - petrification of the body. Typically, it starts in the extremities. Fingers, toes. But it will gradually creep up the limbs until the entire body is consumed, and the Bearer dies."

[alphacraft]

That's... horrifying. Suddenly she regrets taking Clive out to show her Ifrit more than anything. How can anyone use magic in a world like that? And the hand motion doesn't go unnoticed. She would have noticed if he was unable to use a whole arm or leg. Did the petrification start in his chest? That was the worst possible scenario for a phenomenon like this. What about Clive, then? How bad were his symptoms? Of course he would hide this from her, he was probably hiding his symptoms as well. He was just that type, wasn't he?

For a second some of her shock shows on her face, then some of her anger, before she gets herself under control. Her expression is grim, but restrained.

"I see. Thank you for telling me." He could have downplayed it, or kept his answer vague. She's truly grateful that he didn't. Now she knows what she's dealing with.

[kingincognito]

Not being privy to Odile's thoughts, Joshua can only nod. He can see the flickers of emotion on her face, though. Surprise, maybe something stronger, but it's so quick he doesn't get too good a read on any of it.

"For Dominants, it doesn't seem like it progresses as quickly as it does with your average Bearer. To tell the truth, my brother hadn't even shown signs of it at all until we came here. Myself and our childhood friend, we both have signs, but... I'd thought him immune, perhaps, due to his nature. But after I-- after he died at the hands of that... thing, it's begun to appear."

[alphacraft]

She narrows her eyes, honing in on that detail.

"Is that so? How bad is it?"

[kingincognito]

"His right hand is compromised. Not entirely up to the elbow, so he still has use of his arm, but he cannot hold a sword with that hand anymore."

Assuming that she's talking about Clive's affliction. It had been the last he'd mentioned, at any rate, and he's loath to speak of his own.

[alphacraft]

Fortunately that is who she was asking about. She remembers him joking about not being able to juggle, and wants very badly to smack him. She doesn't show it.

"This happened suddenly, immediately on his return?"

[kingincognito]

Joshua nods, lips set in a grim frown.

"Yes. That was his price, I think, the Curse finally setting in. I haven't seen it progress, so I'm... not sure if it will, but I wouldn't take any risks."

[alphacraft]

"No, nor would I." And she won't, from now on. Ifrit and the Phoenix were able to do some damage, but not enough to be worth it. Fire seemed to be a bad choice against Suri anyway. She makes a mental note, but she doubts she could forget about this even if she wanted to.

"I do appreciate your honesty on this matter. Is there anything else I should know about moving forward?"

[kingincognito]

Good. It's good to know that she agrees. Joshua nods, then hums thoughtfully at her question.

"The only other thing is that... Dominants can lose control in moments of extreme distress. The Eikon senses that distress and takes over, forcing the Dominant to prime. Control can be taken back, but it's a defensive measure to save the Dominant in dangerous situations. It happened to me, once, and I've seen it happen to a friend."

[alphacraft]

Ah, yes. Clive had mentioned that, but if Joshua has personal experience then he likely knows more.

"How much distress, precisely?"

[kingincognito]

Ah... How much, indeed. He's silent for a moment.

"When the Dominant fears for their life, or their safety. With mine... Our father was killed right in front of my eyes, and those that killed him were coming for me."

[alphacraft]

Oh. She looks away.

"...I'm sorry."

[kingincognito]

"It's... it's fine," he's quick to reply. "It was eighteen years ago. I've had time."

Nevermind that he was comatose for five of those eighteen years, and still occasionally has nightmares about it. He's fine.

[alphacraft]

It's very clearly not fine, but it would be rude to point that out. She lets it slide.

"I'm afraid we've strayed rather far from the initial subject, but this has all been very useful information."

[kingincognito]

Pulling in a breath, Joshua nods.

"Yes. The loss of control was the last thing I could think of that we hadn't touched on, but if I can think of aught else, I will let you know."

cw: emeto mention

[alphacraft]

She nods her understanding.

"Obviously Craft is not nearly so hard on the body." Obvious to her, anyway. How many magic users in their world make it to 50? 60? Anyway.

"It is possible to make oneself ill by using too much Craft, but it takes a great deal. Not so different from, say, running until you throw up. It passes quickly with a bit of rest. In extreme cases it can cause fever, but the circumstances required are rather extraordinary."

[kingincognito]

"I see..." So there are still consequences to pushing it, but they're... reasonable ones. As though you're pushing your own body too hard. He frowns, thoughtful.

"I wonder if the difference is that your Craft is intrinsic to you, while our magic is... something that was gifted to us in our creation, by a god who only used us as means to an end."

[alphacraft]

"From what I've heard about the origins of said powers, it does seem likely." Clive told her about the crystals, but he didn't seem to know much more about them.

"I'm given to understand it isn't an entirely natural phenomenon?" Natural, maybe, but in the same way that being poisoned from working in a mine is natural.