|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 11:28:25 GMT -5
Alastair stayed and talked with the Mareki, sharing some information, but not all of it, about what had gone on. Konane hung around, waiting for him to be done. She wasn't much for politics, and when they came about, she fell silent and let the others do the talking. If she was in charge of that, she would have gotten too emotional.
Once Alastair was done, she asked if he would like to take a walk around the port town with her, to assest the status of the town, and maybe have something else to talk about.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 13:36:18 GMT -5
When Alastair had left the war room, he was stiff and short when it came to talking, opting instead to follow Konane's lead when it came to walking about the partly wrecked port... town? Of Kaladesh. During their stroll he eventually let out a long sigh and folded his arms behind his head.
"They absolutely do not like us."
He shook his head as he looked over the horizon toward the piers and bay. His goggles remained on his brow despite the dim light, but soon he'd need to pull them down to see in the darkness to come. Smuggler's Vale didn't have the ambient glow of lantern light like cities did. To that end, he kept close to Konane, trusting her eyes a little more than his own.
"But hopefully they took my report seriously. Their information officers, at least, should have."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 14:11:04 GMT -5
"We killed a god. They better take us seriously." Konane huffed, and rubbed her temple.
"I do not like politics, and I do not like war, but we must deal with these things as a... Radical party of adventurers." She pursed her lips, and took Alastair's hand, aware that his sight in the darker hours was not as keen as hers.
She sighed, and squeezed his hand. "We have done so much in the past couple of days, and we have so much more to do. I'd like to think less about that while we can. It would do us some good, give us some sanity, to not dwell."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 14:21:33 GMT -5
"If you want to change the world, you've got to talk to people. Politic is inevitable, I think." He shrugged and frowned before looking ahead.
"If you want to save the world, it seems you've got to talk to even more people. Convincing people to drop what they're doing and work together isn't easy. But I think it's becoming easier now that we're, y'know, collecting evidence. Proof. Writs of authenticity from lords and kings." He ran a hand through his hair.
"It's hard notto dwell on where we've been. Plan the next step, pursue the next goal. But again, I think that might be a distinctly me problem. Can't leave well enough alone." He chuckled.
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 14:29:02 GMT -5
"I think it's an everyone problem. We all want to stop this from happening, and we want peace. But... Sometimes you need to pause, and think of the good we've done, and the allies we have made. Our accomplishments. It is also nice to sit and just... Not think. Just have a hot cup of tea- or well, coffee for you- and enjoy the moment."
Konane leaned her shoulder into his, and lifted his arm up, gesturing to his bracer. "Also, this, you got a favor from a god and now you can just... Turn that into any tool you want." She lifted her fingers, showing off the ring he made. "I would love to be creative like this. To make things. I think about my origami, if it was metal, and animated. To put spells into tools and just... Have it work."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 14:49:01 GMT -5
He glanced at her some as she leaned on him. Though he didn't push her away or even balk, his gaze didn't linger. He looked forward before she drew his attention to the bracers and then toward her ring. "... They're indispensable tools. And I'm absolutely certain they were intended for someone else, but... Right place, right time, I suppose. After all, Moradin stated quite plainly that I make an awful supplicant." He shrugged.
"But I can build, and that's what matters." He looked toward her a few moments, thinking.
"But look at you- you're creative in more ways than you realize! You're no alchemist, but you know enough of the wild to make salves to heal- or tonics to harm, even. You might not be a tinkerer, but your skill at a cook pot is better than most. As for the complicated stuff- magical things with spells, well... you don't have the training, sure enough, but your natural skill lets you bend magic in ways wizards cant. Some might say it's more than equivalent." He shrugged once more. "Take pride in what you can do and where you've come from. It's easier to see others and see, y'know, disparity and stuff."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 14:58:32 GMT -5
"You should listen to yourself." She smiled, chuckling, and lowered their hands. "Even if those bracers were meant for someone else, you do a wonderful job building with them. I have my talents, yes. I am well aware, but I would like to expland them. I did not have a liceum to go to back home. I had a library, yes, and a... Sort of teacher. But you had many, and your talents grew because of it. Even if most of what you did was out of spite."
Konane laughed, and led him to the docks of the city, her keen nose pointing them in the right direction of the bay.
"I want to go to school, but maybe you can be my teacher for a head start."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 19:28:16 GMT -5
"Spite is an incredible motivator." He wagged a finger, interjecting only once as he listened. Some time passed as he gave her words time to settle, thinking on them. As they continued to move, and the water's glint could be seen on their approach, he spoke again.
"I think you could cut it. I think a lot of people are a lot more capable than they think, and I think everyone would do well with more practical knowledge. Not just... building, but understanding why things work. And if they can pick up a little magic too, well, all the better." He shrugged before looking toward her.
"You're keen. Cunning, even, at times. And who knows, if this not-vocation of problem solving continues paying like it does, we could easily afford tuition for the whole darn party. I think Klinkle could give 'Master of Alchemics Lysandre' a run for his money." He laughed and looked out toward the bay.
"Though I don't know how well I can teach. I'm an excellent student- when I'm being a spiteful brat. I've never taught. Outside of Emmett, anyway." He shrugged and tilted his head to look back to her, a sudden thought occurring. "Say, though, you've spent time with Klinkle, and she's got a keen mind too. You ever ask her for a lecture?"
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 19:48:08 GMT -5
"Klinkle has taught me a lot, but alchemy... it is strange to me. I understand that it is... lots of chemicals with magic, yes? Her former master had a lot of it. Her and I would sneak into his library at night to study books and experiment. She... wasn't actually allowed to learn. But she took it so well... I felt if I tried learning that, I would blow things up more."
"But you, what you do... it makes sense. The weave of magic you place into your work. I enjoy watching you work, more than just... enjoying your company. The little bits of metal and things becoming more, the runes you stamp into them. I like the idea of making magic into an item that can do it for me."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 21:40:29 GMT -5
"Alchemy is... Tricky." Alastair admitted, thinking back to former shortcomings. "Though, fundamentally, the more you learn about general...stuff, the easier other topics become. Like..." He tapped his chin. "Metallurgy! That study crosses into natural law studies, alchemy, engineering... And it's fundamental for smithing. Imagine it like a home- there's foundations, walls, supports, a roof- if you're worth your salt as a carpenter..."
He looked back toward her. "I appreciate your zest and interest. And interest is half of the equation! Aptitude being the other half of course..." He nodded. "And that comes with time. So.. maybe next time I'm working I'll run you through some basics and gush about the earth-science stuff in between."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 21:48:13 GMT -5
"I would love that. I am very interested in what you do..." Konane smiled wide, feeling giddy just thinking about it. More time with Alastair, and learning on top of that?
"I know you think you are not a good teacher, but I remember the colors of aether stones, and I remember you talking about quartz rocks when we were first adventuring."
"It is not if you think you are good, it is about how much enthusiasm you have for the subject. You did not like Lysander much, because he was... A snob." She snickered, and continued.
"But Fenderbaren, he seemed like he had a wonder to him. And you have that, too. You get excited about what you like, and... It's contagious."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 1, 2023 22:04:11 GMT -5
Alastair's brows went up slightly. "That sunk in huh?" Blinking, he looked out to the sea. "... Here I thought I was rambling."
He smiled softly and shook his head. "Lysandre... The man was- is- brilliant. He's had decades- maybe centuries- to perfect the craft. And he would impress just how important it was to either understand the science, or, well..." He shook his head.
"In retrospect, I get it. Cutting corners in alchemy is liable to get you killed in new and interesting, excruciating, ways. Worse stil are the folks out there who peddle tinctures and potions what, at best do nothing, and at worse do more harm than good. Lysander knew that. But he was still a jerk and expected us to simply get it too." He nodded and looked back to her.
"It was actually Fenderberrin who put that into perspective. He knew how to read people and read between the lines. I came to him often- frustrated over one thing or another. He saw the good in people... even if they were jerks, he made me ask why, followed the logic until there was a reason. Maybe not an excuse, but a reason." He laughed.
"... And yeah, he was excited over lots of things. He was a lot... Quieter about it. What with being old and slower paced and all."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 1, 2023 22:11:36 GMT -5
"It sunk in before I... Found out I had feelings for you. I think your little rants just helped me like you. I can't explain why it is, but it just... Is."
She couldn't stop smiling, he was just such a breath of fresh air from all the fighting and bloodshed. Though, it hung in the back of her mind. She pushed it aside, and enjoyed the moment they were having.
"Speaking of feelings... You said something earlier that nearly froze me in my steps." Konane's ears flicked, and perked up, tail wagging slowly, but uncontrollably.
"What... What caused you to say... 'Thanks, love.' to me? I know what I did was important. I was tired of him picking on you."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on Jul 4, 2023 11:45:49 GMT -5
"Oh... Oh!" He clasped the back of his neck and laughed. "I uh, did say that, didn't I. Thinking back, I was pretty talkative - it was a long and exciting night and I think I was getting a little punchy."
He looked back to her. "I guess, well... Dealing what we were dealing with, it felt like a nice, honest thing to say. I didn't have any clever quips, bruised as I was, and I truly was thankful for the help." He pursed his lips.
"And 'love' is, well... With all the talk of family and connection and our group being what it is, it felt... I don't know, important to say it out loud. Like... I don't know, it feels a little campy to say we're all family- in sure not everyone feels the same way, but... I care a lot about you guys. I haven't been this close with anyone since Rose and old Fenderberrin, and it felt right to say it out loud."
He went quiet for a few moments.
"And, I don't know." He spoke a little more quietly than before, as though prying ears were near. "... After what you said about how you felt, I thought- it's silly, but I thought- maybe if I tried it out, I might... Get it too."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on Jul 4, 2023 17:15:48 GMT -5
Konane blinked a few times, feeling her cheeks grow hot under her fur. "I do feel like a sort of family. It has been a few months, but we have all been through a lot together."
He spoke more quietly, her ears perking and she leaned towards him some to hear him. Biting her lip, she leaned back and didn't quite know what to do with her hands, she she started rubbing her cheeks.
"You want to try it out..." Her heart pounded. That was... good? Maybe he would like her. More than a friend. Imagine that. She glanced away, ears folding to the sides of her head and she chuckled nervously. Why did he always make her feel so bashful.
Looking back to him, she lowered her hands and rested them on her hips, then decided to fold them. "I am... very excited that you want to... try it out." Her tail wagged more, and she really couldn't hide her excitement, despite the nervous, slow reply.
"H... I do not know where to go from here. I... do you want to umn.." Sae's words of 'just kiss him' popped into her mind and she fell silent with the thought.
|
|
