genessia | Video

Heh, will be? Has been! Had a glorious snowball fight myself.

And that sounds wonderful! I've been meaning to do that very thing. You've done so before?

There's still two weeks to go. It could warm up, yet.

[Will nods and smiles. ]

I always went with my brothers, every year.

Wonderful; we should definitely do so this year too. Do you know all about it? The songs, how many to bring, the time needed to practice...

I know a lot of songs. I don't know if they are the same songs others would know here, so adding extra rehearsal time might be best.

Excellent! Oh, we'll have to get started right away. What number of people should we gather?

As many as would be interested, I suppose. And if someone had an instrument they wished to play, that would be welcome as well.

More the merrier; perfect! All right, I'll gather what I can soon.

[Later, with a private function] I just remembered something. Will, can you do me a favor? There's a woman I know, captivated by a spell. It's a...peculiar kind, one she knows and accepts. I've been praying daily that she'll be free of it, but maybe more than one is required. Like the verse says: "when two or more are gathered in my name", or something to that effect. I should very much appreciate it if you prayed too. Her name is Satori.

A spell? [Will's tone is sharp and concerned.] What sort of a spell?

[Because Will now carried with him the knowledge of Gramarye, all the knowledge his kind held of the workings of magic in his world. He knew very well that there were very, very few spells that could be fought by prayer. ]

[That Will was exacting for a sort of spell was concerning. He brushed it aside for now.]

Not...one on her person, exactly, but...the kind of spell that makes a false, pleasant world, and ensares those who fall under its sway. A kind of house and anodyne at once. An illusion that's heartbreakingly near reality, and yet all the more treacherous for it. Only her will, I think, could set her free and...

[He sighed, with some sorrow]
She wills not.

[Will frowns as he sorts through that. He did know a number of spells that could have a similar effect, but...]

How are you sure that it is a spell rather than something else?

You remember the warning I gave you at the beginning; about the archways that weren't true? It's that. And if a false land made of thin air that brings back our nostalgia to bind us isn't sorcery, I hardly know what is.

But I don't insist on any particular mysticism. Whatever the ailment, the remedy looks to be a spiritual one. So I ask for what spiritual aid you can give.

[Will is slow in responding, his question quiet and thoughtful.]

How is it that you know it is not a true place? Or that it was not true once?

It was, once. Or at least, they're based on memories that I've no reason to doubt.

But reality...does not repeat. Especially not like that. The things in those places do not behave as real things do; it's too tinny. And true things are not made that way; they do not require us to hollow out our head or our hearts before they come to exist.

I think that I should like to see this place for myself.

[Because Will had once walked through the Lost Land, in the days before it had drowned in the ocean. He had been to places that nearly anyone would say did not exist. Before he made a promise he must look at this place through the eyes of an Old One.]

[Couldn't hurt, Ted supposed. Something about Will seemed incorruptible, so at worst his eyes would be marred by looking at a living lie.]

"All right, I'll...see if I can't make arrangements."

[He rang up Koishi for that very thing. OOC'ly the thread might get jacked b/t the two for a little bit]

Koishi answered after the second ring, blinking into the phone's light. Her hair was messy and her eyes weren't really glowing. Without their inner light they reflected brightly from the light of the phone's screen. Like a cat.

"Hello Mister spades." A yawn. "You woke me up before the alarm. But that's okay. It would have gone off soon anyway."

[He's a little surprised she had a sleep schedule, period. It must have followed the moon; something nocturnal.]

Apologies. Will here, a young man whose acquaintance I've made, would like to see Old Hell. Could you take him?

On the mountain early on, Koishi found sleeping through the dawn until about midday to be ideal. However, growing as a youkai meant less sleep. That meant short naps here and there and the occasional several hours rest. But it wasn't really uncommon for her to go without sleep for a week at a time.

"Oh. Yes I can. You should bring him to the entrance to the Fayren Waterway. I can lead him from there." Another yawn, the little youkai blinking several times as the glow returned.

"I'm glad I get to meet your friends Mister Spades. You seem lonely a lot of the time. I'm glad my fears were misplaced." She brightened. "I'm going to go comb my hair. I'll also see if Sis wants to wake up. Okay?"

"Very well; you'll see him soon." He looked a little dismayed. He definitely felt lonely, despite all the socializing he did. He might have even articulated why, before she brought up her sister.

"Oh, no, don't do that. She must be horribly busy this time of year, and needs what rest she can get. You'll do fine."
[That and there's a good chance she'll get wise to why he's sending Will at all and that'd just be awkward.]

"Oh it's no trouble. I'll go get ready myself. It wont take long so hurry up, okay Mister Spades?"

And with that she hung up. Apparently she expected them to swing by this hour.

Edited 2016-12-05 01:43 (UTC)

[Short while later]

Will? You're good to go. Shall I get you from the K&H home? It'll be a bit of a walk, in Fayren, but you look healthy enough. I should hope so, anyway, if we're to carol.

I am much better now than I was a few months ago, thank you. [The boy grins crookedly.] Don't think I'm up to running up and down mountains yet, but a bit of a walk should be okay.

He smiled warily. "I'll be there soon."

[Boy was he. Thank you, life-fibers. And nerves. Might as well get it over with.]

"Shouldn't take us much more than forty minutes or so. Let's be off."

[Walkin' through a winter wonderland. Ted would make light and infrequent conversation, mind occupied with the gravity of the goal for the most part. Clearly he was bothered, making half-hearted efforts to hide it.

Once they got into Fayren, things seemed drastically different and more medieval. For one, Ted's clothes almost look like they fit in. For another, the snowmen. They were everywhere, of course, but these ones seemed to hop about and jostle. Some fairy whimsy, no doubt. Ted knew the way to the Archway, and hopefully got there early enough to avoid Koishi's notice.]

"Here we are. Let me know when you finish, so I can pick you up. I'll just--oof!"

[One snowman in particular sideswiped him, nearly knocking him down. The nerve!]

"Heh, silly thing! Suppose I'll take my time seeing what that's about. It can be a little scary in there, but there's little to worry about." [Unless you're Ted, who worries about it often. Maybe he just needed a distraction, like these curious snowmen who acted so brusquely. It most definitely would be a wholly innocent outing without having to beat up a magician or anything like that.]

Edited 2016-12-05 02:05 (UTC)

[The camera is zoomed into Dug's nose, so the only view we get here is two doggy nostrils]

Snow? What is snow?

[Will blinks, a little taken aback.]

Ah, cold water? The white crystals that fall from the sky and blanket the land?

[Dug just tilts his head, still confused]

[Will tries to simplify his explanation.]

The cold white stuff that is sometimes on the ground?

I do not know what this white stuff is. But I will protect you from it!

[Gets in a guarding stance, tail and ears on high alert]

[Will chuckles and answers him solemnly.]

That is very kind of you, but I do not believe that I need any protection.

It is my job to protect little humans. I do my job because I am a good dog! I will stand guard!

And I can tell you are doing an excellent job.

[Will couldn't help but be touched, and a little amused. He was terribly fond of dogs. Since moving here he had missed his family's farm dogs terribly. But all the same, he couldn't help but be amused. Will was a watchman and creature of magic himself.

Who watches for the watchman, indeed.]

I get the feeling it might, but I'm sure it will be fun.

[Though it means she can't wear short skirts anymore, which will be a weird change to her anyway.]

Not that I would know how to have fun in snow.

It isn't difficult at all. If it snows, you'll see.

I'm sure I will. But until it possibly does, we'll just have to wait and see if it does snow.

Though I should ask how you are right now?

How I am? What do you mean?

We haven't spoken in a while, so I am asking hoe you are. Usually it's something people ask when meeting someone again after some time.

Ah. Then my answer is that I have been well enough.

That's good at least, I mean there hasn't been much reason for you to not be well enough.

I'm much better than I was when I arrived here, yes.

That's good. Oh! What are you doing right now?

Nothing at the moment. Why?

I wanted to come over and bring something to you. Like cake or something, if you want that.

That would be very kind of you. I would like that, yes.

Any certain type of cake?

No, any would do.

Then I shall bring a chocolate one. I would call them my specialty.

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[Video] Aw, come on. Isn't this cute?

[Video] Very cute

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