genessia | [Video/Closed Actions]

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(Video: OTA)

[The image on the screen is that of a young woman, roughly mid or late teens, dressed in a formal black gown and a silver tiara which draped a sheer mourning veil over her face. She removes the veil to reveal the saddened face of Anastasia.]

I'm back from the dream docks… Has anyone ever lost a parent? Sibling? A child? Or have watched them wither away? …How do you cope with it?

(Closed Action: Trunks)

[Rain. How thematically appropriate. Yet, also a problem. Anastasia is without cover as she walked out into the open, hugging her father's grimoire. Her heels made light splashes as she walked. But then she heard a deeper-sounding splash near by. Glancing up, she sees Trunks. Her face is still veiled, but it hid nothing, not her identify or her sadness.]

(Closed Action: Soma)

[Scattered showers all over. As if she wasn't soaked to the bone already. An odd thing to note was the grimoire she held in her arms remained dry. As the veiled young woman clad in a black gown entered the Cloak & Dagger store, she made her best attempt to gain attention.]

Excuse me… May I see the store owner?

(Closed Action: Satsuki)

[One way or another, Anastasia found her way back home at Heavens Court. With the Ruby Circlet now gone, the sunlight is pure, absolute torture. But she made it, with help without a doubt. As she entered the apartment, she listened for a moment, then spoke up in a way that Satsuki would recognize. But can she still recognize her, despite only growing about 6 or so inches and looking more distinctly like a grown teenager? Only one way to find out.]

Tadaima.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The longer I spend exerting control... the less personal control I have. Back when this first happened to me, I didn't even know what was going on, so I had... basically no control at all, over anything. The only thing that kept me from going insane then and there was the knowledge that I still had friends that cared.

[He sighs again, and breaks protocol by hopping up and taking a seat on the back counter. Luckily on a clear spot.]

I think Remilia would probably take some of the weight, if I let her. But... that's not a burden I'm going to put on someone else. Not for any reason.

I see... I won't stop you if you decide to get rid of those ghouls. But I... I don't want to lose you over a foolish suggestion that was my own.

[She would rather he don't try at all, now that she knows this.]

I've already taken the first steps, actually. It was one of the first things I did, when I figured out he was gone.

[He offers a wry smile.] I do occasionally have a plan for these things, you know. A few days isn't going to put me in danger. If he's gone more than a few weeks, we might have problems, but... for now, things are holding.

[Anastasia sighs in relief, resting her cheek in her hand.]

That's good...

[After a moment, she perks up again.]

I suddenly have this weird feeling that I'm forgetting something...

[He tilts his head, just a bit. Just like a big puppy.] What kind of something?

[After a moment, she shakes her head.]

It's probably nothing. I haven't been awake long, so I may be recovering from the sleep still...

[She puts one leg over the other and cross her arms, trying to think of a subject change to end this anxious feeling from looking like a fool in front of Soma.]

If you're sure... [He doesn't mind trying to help, and he doesn't think she's a fool. The fact that she just went through several years of war, and her father's impending demise? Those are enough reasons to make anyone feel a little lost.]

How's Satsuki taking all this?

Satsuki took it well. She says I don't look any different, so I made a note to visit a doctor to get my measurements.

[Because it is somewhat of a problem if she didn't grow at all.]

What do you think?

I think Satsuki is blind. You've definitely grown.

[Completely sincere, and completely oblivious to what he just said.]

You're several inches taller, you look more mature, and just... overall, more developed.

[Wait for it... aaaand there's the blush.]

I-I mean...

[Whoa whoa whoa whoa.

Whoa. That was a hell of a lot more than she had hoped.]

S-Soma! Where exactly have you been looking?

[Not that she isn't flattered, but really dood.]

[Blush blush blushy blush. He did NOT mean to say that. But he can't exactly take it back now, can he?]

I-I mean... it's obvious just looking at you, at all. Before, you were frozen, now... you're not. It's just... there.

[He's looking away now, as if he feels guilty for noticing it at all. He wasn't even talking about her chest!]

[What a big, bumbling idiot. Of course, she is aware that it's her own fault for even asking.

She just got a lot more than she expected.]

T-this is too much~
I mean, I am flattered you see me as a woman, but...

[Quick, change subject! Anastasia picks up the grimoire to show Soma.]

Look! Grimoire!

[He coughs a couple times, and tries to regather the tattered scraps of his dignity. What's left wouldn't even be enough to preserve modesty, were it converted to clothing.]

Yes. A convenient subject change. Let's focus on literally anything else, please. [He tries to make it a joke, but it's obvious it's still on his mind. Probably will be for some time to come. That was one hell of a Freudian slip.]

I noticed it when you came in, but I figured you'd tell me about it when you were ready. I... don't think it'd be a great idea if I touched it, just now. Not as closely connected to the castle as I am.

[She is in all the agreements possible. She set it back down.]

This is the Tyrinolim. A sacred treasure of my kingdom. Said to be written by the God-Queen herself and and passed down through Nivian nobility. As Crown Princess, it comes into my hands now.

My father used to defend Nivia, and now it's my turn to use it for the same purpose.

I'm certain you'll do well at it, Anya. You had a great example to learn from. [Soma's never heard much about her father, to be honest - an anecdote here and there, but that's about it. He isn't even sure he knows the man's name. But considering how Anya clearly looks up to him... yeah, he feels confident in saying that.]

How does it work? Is it like a normal book of spells, or... something different?

[Honestly, she never got much attention from her father, which made her grow to be timid around men. It's only the last three years that he started spending more time with her.]

Its like others. It amplifies my magic power, but I can also write down specific spells in it and pull them back out to use instantly. Other magic-inclined people can write a spell in for me to use later also.

[Please, tell him how he can get his foot further into his mouth. This entire conversation has been all about shoving it deeper.]

Other people...? Interesting. I may have something for you later, then. After this thing with the castle quiets down some.

You do?

[She shifts around in her seat. Slightly uncomfortable now.]

What is it? Or do you intend to make it a surprise? And I suppose I can't help with the castle somehow, can I?

Yeah. I know a few spells that aren't directly related to my innate ability, and one that is - though I kind of doubt you want to learn that one. [He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.] Knowing how to rip the soul out of an enemy isn't exactly something you get to sleep peacefully after learning.

Mostly what I can offer you is a set of seals that can bind people or monsters from receiving power from outside themselves - like, say, a demon that draws energy from Hell to regenerate. [Nope, not speaking from experience, nosiree. ~~He's totally speaking from experience.~~]

I can show you how to draw the seals; would that let you copy them into your book?

[Yeah, while she is proficient in Dark magic, that falls more in Black magic, which is foreign to her.]

I'm not certain. There are no seal type magics in my world. Not that I am aware of, of course.

[Seals of this sort fall almost entirely under Holy or Divine magic - the kind of stuff a cleric usually is able to cast. They are, after all, meant to bind demons.]

No harm in trying, at least? Here, let me get a piece of paper and a pencil...

[He fetches tool and medium, and sets about outlining a series of hexagonal dot diagrams.]

Okay. The first step is forming this matrix in your mind - it's the grid you'll be drawing the symbols on. [He points to one of the six-point diagrams.] You can draw it literally in the air with points of light-emitting mana, if you need to. When you do, make sure it's not bigger than you can reach with the full extension of one arm - you can't stop in the middle and start over, if you mess up. Most of the things you'd want to use these against won't take long to get back up after you knock them down.

I see.

[She turns Tyrinolim and opensbit up to pages mysteriously blank. With a flash, she pulls a feather pen from the book and offers it to Soma.]

I'm still barred from actually learning magic that is not native to my natural power. So I will need you to write down the incantation, like signing a contract stating you give me permission to use your magic.

[What a honorable book.]

[With some trepidation, he accepts the pen - and drops it immediately, shaking his hand as if it's been scalded. Angry red marks - burns - are visible on his fingers.] Yeah, I was... kind of expecting that. We're going to have to wait until I'm done with the castle, I'm afraid.

[That look in his eyes. Regret? Fear? Pain? Hard to tell.]

Oh...

[The pen disappears and Anastasia closes the book.]

I suppose it can't be helped. What now?

[At this point, Anya might notice something on a shelf behind Soma. It's... a doll? A rather creepy looking one, at that. It seems to be looking at her.

Glaring at her.

But surely it's just a trick of the light, right? Anyway, Soma is completely unaware of it.]

Hmm. It's about noon - would you care for lunch?

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