Digitalis Old English folklore said that foxes wore the flowers on their paws to silence movement and stealthily stalk prey. Healing, pain, insincerity, insecurity
[well. that sure is an option. even without knowing this meta, aerith is sort of considering daan's behavior so far, and that answer, and she weighs her options on what to say here.]
...what is it they say? Hope for the best, expect the worst? [she's optimistic by nature if only because so many things are so abysmally bleak, but she's aware enough that there are some situations it's harder to think won't come to fruition.] I guess all we can do is prepare for anything as best as we can.
[a glance to his newly shredded robe.] Is that why you're doing this? Bandages? [or maybe it's stress relief, she's just guessing.]
I don't disagree with that, of course. I'd hate to be that much of a downer all of the time.
[ He shrugs a little. The strips are pretty neat. Reasonable-length bandages and extra cloth fragments from bits that came out because he cut around bloodstained areas. ]
Pretty much. I had a terrible first few baby steps yesterday, including finding out there are leeches in the river the hard way. And with our personal goods arriving via infested swamp, I imagine our microaggression torments will continue.
[ He does have mild healing leech bites on his dominant hand... that's lovely. ]
Better be prepared than not, right? We have blankets, so I don't think I'll be making any more personal use of this robe.
Some people would prefer to be that way to avoid what they think is inevitable. [so. she's glad for that at least. she frowns a little at the mentions of the leeches because even if she's never going to have to deal with them, she's not really thrilled with the idea of them (and other things) potentially latching onto cloud and yuffie.]
We couldn't even open the boxes until we gave it a little of our own blood, so you might be right about that. [which...yay. there're blankets in most of the shelters from what she's noticed and she can't imagine it'll be too chilly here given the constantly burning fire anyway, so she can't disagree. may as well shred the robe.] Anything I can do to help? I know it's probably a one-person job, but...
[she likes to offer. especially since daan has a currently lightly injured hand.]
Edited (WHY DOES MY KEYBOARD HATE THE > SYMBOOOOOOL) 2024-06-09 08:40 (UTC)
Can't say the same for anybody else, but we only used a little. When we first tried, we thought only one of us needed to bleed a little for both boxes but it had to be both us on our own. It wouldn't open at all until then.
[so you know, completely fine and normal things for boxes to do.]
I like busywork. And it might not be a bad idea to let your hand rest a little, but it's up to you. [she will not take his busywork if it's a distraction for him. sometimes that is what you use busywork for. at the mention of the crown though she seems to be intrigued.]
If you don't want to keep it, sure. Maybe some of the blooms can be saved and regrow. This place might look a little less creepy with some color. [also it might be a new project if they're stuck here for longer than they want to be.]
A couple people asked me whether I bothered keeping it. I just didn't see much payoff in burning it like some others did.
[ And honestly he was also like well if shit sucks I guess I'll just eat it, but he hasn't said this out loud to anyone because what if you all don't know weird horror-game based food scarcity and think he's a fucking weirdo. ]
Specifically tied to you by your blood. At least it's effective in making sure nobody else makes away with your personals.
[ Imagine we just had a serial clothes-stealer this early. ]
...Sure. I'm still stripping these, but I can rip the strips and you could help me roll them into a neater bundle. If you don't mind that.
I did watch a few people stomp on them before throwing them into the fire. Seems a little unfair to them when they haven't done anything yet. [flowers are fine? unless these turn out to be brainwashing flower crowns somehow but damn. suppose eating it is valid though.]
Yup. We'll see if anything else requires our own blood though. [imagine that's suddenly the only way to get into our assigned housing. but there's a little nod and she will settle to go ahead and start gathering the strips he's already pulled apart to organize for rolling.]
I don't mind at all. [strip away. i'm not fixing that. but anyway, while he does that she ponders.] Are you a doctor? Or do you just know how to treat injuries?
We're kind of lacking in sterile anything, really. [this is more just an agreement because this place is a living nightmare. doable! but a nightmare. she does look him over when he holds up the scalpel, tilting her head in thought as if to show she's really considering it.]
Hm...I think I can see it. [a gentle tease, but yeah this does make a little more sense. good luck when we start having cyoas.] Hopefully we won't need to treat for anything like that, but it's nice to know we have someone.
[anyway she's aware she's kind of asking a lot, so she does decide she can offer at least a little something in return.] I know how to treat more minor ones, but most of my healing is with my magic.
At least we have an ever-burning pyre. Guess it'll just have to do.
[ Cauterisation, baby. We're really going old-school here. He goes back to reducing his robe some more, but he does pause and tense a bit when she brings up magic. You can tell by the uneven sound of fabric ripping. ]
[she sure can tell. and the thing about it is that she almost doesn't seem to acknowledge it, like maybe she was half-expecting this sort of response. but it is noted and noticed. it's why she shakes her head a little.]
Nothing you need to worry about here. [lightly. no materia, no...anything, really.]
[ He goes back to quietly making approximately equal little tears with the scalpel. They're mostly okay. Look he's only got one eye he's trying his best to keep them even. ]
Occult healing is pretty dangerous... At least where I come from, anyway. But it sounds like other people are familiar with magic, and rules might be different.
[he really is out here doing his best. she doesn't prompt him to continue, mostly watching him cut into the fabric and letting him decide what he wants to say to that.]
You did mention yesterday that not knowing how to use the occult could lead to consequences. [pensively said.] But I don't think ours is the same as that. Like anything, there are certain things that can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but there are also things that are only used for good.
But who am I to tell you about this and that, especially for things that are beyond my understanding. I've been told it comes off as judgmental.
[ And his canonmate is Marina who's really just Out There doing things, so the dichotomy is very funny. They have very different opinions in certain ways. ]
I know. [and she does. everything has a cost, but maybe in some cases some costs are worth it. but that's getting a little too into personal and philosophical conversation. can't wait to see how the next eight weeks goes for you two.
but anyway. she does seem to find that response a little funny, though not necessarily humorous. it possesses a sense of self-awareness that's nice to see, even if she isn't remotely offended by what he's said.]
I brought it up. If I didn't think people have feelings on it, I wouldn't have. [she knew it was a 50/50 change here.] I don't know if I'd see it as judgmental so much as only having your own experiences to go off of. Someone else told me about the magic from their home and it's also different from mine. Does knowing this change your opinion about me?
[ He may know a thing or two but it's not like he went to literal school for it. Though he'd prefer people don't, he understands that's his own preference. He just hopes nothing bad comes out of it all. ]
About you? Not really, unless you reveal something sinister hidden up your sleeve.
I'd rather someone know healing magic than something to hurt others, I guess...
[to that, she really does set aside some of the strips to gesture first to one short sleeve and then the other before holding up both hands.]
Nothing sinister here. [it's really up to him if he believes that, but all she can do is try to convey that she really isn't a threat at the moment. she frowns with the question, however.] I don't though, no. My materia was missing from my things when we got the box open. Cloud's was, too, and probably Yuffie's. So unless another box arrives...we're out of luck for now.
[and also, you know, there are other factors about her magic that aren't working here, but she's not about to go into that so it's easier just to say "i'm missing a few giant marbles" as i finally abandon you for the night.]
[ And therefore are from the same world... wacky. That's a pretty decent handful of castmates he's discovered around. That's a nice thing, probably? Aside from the fear of them dying when that stuff starts happening. ]
What is "materia", exactly? A conduit?
[ I really shouldn't be encouraging your late night habits but I am starving for Ty tags. I will start kicking you to bed soon, it's forgiven because it's opening weekend. ]
Mmhm. That's right. They're friends of mine. [and that is where she leaves it for now. she's finding out herself just how many castmates are here, but that seems wild to her, too. but materia is a little easier to tackle than the thought of somebody biting it before they can figure out how to leave.]
You could say that. [she cups one hand as if holding a small ball.] They're orbs made up of a crystallized energy source. Some of them are naturally formed but there are some people who make them themselves. [there's the tiniest hint of displeasure there because shinra is. complicated. but regardless.] A lot of them are for elemental magic, but there are others that can be used for different spells or even for summons.
[she knows. materia is made from mako, and mako comes from the lifestream of the planet. when more mako is pulled from the lifestream, the planet suffers. the cost is the planet itself.
and she knows that, but explaining it to a stranger is a little more than she thinks is fair at the moment, so she lets daan say this and nods.]
How do you decide when something is worth that cost?
[this man lost his eye as a cost for something didn't he. this is not exactly aerith's train of thought, but she does seem to think that that answer makes sense for him.]
And when the cost is paid, do you think it's ever something you can regain again?
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...what is it they say? Hope for the best, expect the worst? [she's optimistic by nature if only because so many things are so abysmally bleak, but she's aware enough that there are some situations it's harder to think won't come to fruition.] I guess all we can do is prepare for anything as best as we can.
[a glance to his newly shredded robe.] Is that why you're doing this? Bandages? [or maybe it's stress relief, she's just guessing.]
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[ He shrugs a little. The strips are pretty neat. Reasonable-length bandages and extra cloth fragments from bits that came out because he cut around bloodstained areas. ]
Pretty much. I had a terrible first few baby steps yesterday, including finding out there are leeches in the river the hard way. And with our personal goods arriving via infested swamp, I imagine our microaggression torments will continue.
[ He does have mild healing leech bites on his dominant hand... that's lovely. ]
Better be prepared than not, right? We have blankets, so I don't think I'll be making any more personal use of this robe.
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We couldn't even open the boxes until we gave it a little of our own blood, so you might be right about that. [which...yay. there're blankets in most of the shelters from what she's noticed and she can't imagine it'll be too chilly here given the constantly burning fire anyway, so she can't disagree. may as well shred the robe.] Anything I can do to help? I know it's probably a one-person job, but...
[she likes to offer. especially since daan has a currently lightly injured hand.]
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...
It didn't need to be much. I hope nobody got too overzealous.
[ Just. Thinking about that. Everyone please be reasonable about your blood boxes. ]
You don't need to. It's more busywork than anything, unless you're looking for some.
...
It's only tangentially related, but do you want the flower crown?
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Can't say the same for anybody else, but we only used a little. When we first tried, we thought only one of us needed to bleed a little for both boxes but it had to be both us on our own. It wouldn't open at all until then.
[so you know, completely fine and normal things for boxes to do.]
I like busywork. And it might not be a bad idea to let your hand rest a little, but it's up to you. [she will not take his busywork if it's a distraction for him. sometimes that is what you use busywork for. at the mention of the crown though she seems to be intrigued.]
If you don't want to keep it, sure. Maybe some of the blooms can be saved and regrow. This place might look a little less creepy with some color. [also it might be a new project if they're stuck here for longer than they want to be.]
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[ And honestly he was also like well if shit sucks I guess I'll just eat it, but he hasn't said this out loud to anyone because what if you all don't know weird horror-game based food scarcity and think he's a fucking weirdo. ]
Specifically tied to you by your blood. At least it's effective in making sure nobody else makes away with your personals.
[ Imagine we just had a serial clothes-stealer this early. ]
...Sure. I'm still stripping these, but I can rip the strips and you could help me roll them into a neater bundle. If you don't mind that.
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Yup. We'll see if anything else requires our own blood though. [imagine that's suddenly the only way to get into our assigned housing. but there's a little nod and she will settle to go ahead and start gathering the strips he's already pulled apart to organize for rolling.]
I don't mind at all. [strip away. i'm not fixing that. but anyway, while he does that she ponders.] Are you a doctor? Or do you just know how to treat injuries?
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[ Imagine having to do a ritual palm cut just to go to bed. We may as well all just give in and sleep outside. ]
...
Yeah, I am. Not to the point of being a surgeon but could treat most major traumatic injuries in an emergency.
[ He holds up the scalpel, safely. ]
Maybe I look the part a little better now.
[ Because tbh with his terrible look and the flower on a string he probably did look incredibly cultish yesterday. ]
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Hm...I think I can see it. [a gentle tease, but yeah this does make a little more sense. good luck when we start having cyoas.] Hopefully we won't need to treat for anything like that, but it's nice to know we have someone.
[anyway she's aware she's kind of asking a lot, so she does decide she can offer at least a little something in return.] I know how to treat more minor ones, but most of my healing is with my magic.
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[ Cauterisation, baby. We're really going old-school here. He goes back to reducing his robe some more, but he does pause and tense a bit when she brings up magic. You can tell by the uneven sound of fabric ripping. ]
...
Is it, now...
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Nothing you need to worry about here. [lightly. no materia, no...anything, really.]
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I don't know that I'd call it worry, exactly.
[ He goes back to quietly making approximately equal little tears with the scalpel. They're mostly okay. Look he's only got one eye he's trying his best to keep them even. ]
Occult healing is pretty dangerous... At least where I come from, anyway. But it sounds like other people are familiar with magic, and rules might be different.
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You did mention yesterday that not knowing how to use the occult could lead to consequences. [pensively said.] But I don't think ours is the same as that. Like anything, there are certain things that can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but there are also things that are only used for good.
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...Everything.
[ A pause. ]
But who am I to tell you about this and that, especially for things that are beyond my understanding. I've been told it comes off as judgmental.
[ And his canonmate is Marina who's really just Out There doing things, so the dichotomy is very funny. They have very different opinions in certain ways. ]
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but anyway. she does seem to find that response a little funny, though not necessarily humorous. it possesses a sense of self-awareness that's nice to see, even if she isn't remotely offended by what he's said.]
I brought it up. If I didn't think people have feelings on it, I wouldn't have. [she knew it was a 50/50 change here.] I don't know if I'd see it as judgmental so much as only having your own experiences to go off of. Someone else told me about the magic from their home and it's also different from mine. Does knowing this change your opinion about me?
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About you? Not really, unless you reveal something sinister hidden up your sleeve.
I'd rather someone know healing magic than something to hurt others, I guess...
...
Do you have access to it?
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Nothing sinister here. [it's really up to him if he believes that, but all she can do is try to convey that she really isn't a threat at the moment. she frowns with the question, however.] I don't though, no. My materia was missing from my things when we got the box open. Cloud's was, too, and probably Yuffie's. So unless another box arrives...we're out of luck for now.
[and also, you know, there are other factors about her magic that aren't working here, but she's not about to go into that so it's easier just to say "i'm missing a few giant marbles" as i finally abandon you for the night.]
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[ And therefore are from the same world... wacky. That's a pretty decent handful of castmates he's discovered around. That's a nice thing, probably? Aside from the fear of them dying when that stuff starts happening. ]
What is "materia", exactly? A conduit?
[ I really shouldn't be encouraging your late night habits but I am starving for Ty tags. I will start kicking you to bed soon, it's forgiven because it's opening weekend. ]
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You could say that. [she cups one hand as if holding a small ball.] They're orbs made up of a crystallized energy source. Some of them are naturally formed but there are some people who make them themselves. [there's the tiniest hint of displeasure there because shinra is. complicated. but regardless.] A lot of them are for elemental magic, but there are others that can be used for different spells or even for summons.
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Sounds a little bit like a ritual circle.
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There's always a cost somewhere...
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and she knows that, but explaining it to a stranger is a little more than she thinks is fair at the moment, so she lets daan say this and nods.]
How do you decide when something is worth that cost?
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But at least, if the cost is quantifiable, something I can perceive or control.
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And when the cost is paid, do you think it's ever something you can regain again?
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