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Post by CautionCat on Jul 10, 2024 10:01:39 GMT -5
"You do not have to do it, and you do not have to learn anything if you do take it. No one is making you. I am sure there are plenty of people who do not speak a language their last name is origin to."
His hair was always so nice and soft after a bath, she really enjoyed the feeling of it. Really, she couldn't get enough of him.
"It is nice that he is opening up more. He must have many regrets, to want to patch things up with you, and include you into his life again." She stretched her legs some, sliding her soft fur on the sheets, shifting under him a little.
"He has made a lot of bad choices... but now you know why he avoided being with you, other than losing your mother, I think it was to keep you safe, with what the Ghostbloods seemed to know... he was a target, and so you would have been one as well."
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Post by opius on Jul 10, 2024 10:22:22 GMT -5
"I think it would have been inevitable..." He frowned, not turning to meet her gaze. "The Ghostbloods- or Matzos even, doesn't seem the type to let something go. Sure, devil dark perished in the raid, but the Nights Watch still *won*. I don't think any of them were truly safe after that. Not Alain, and not myself." He frowned deeply.
"All of these secrets and misadventures- it makes me wonder about things. How dangerous was it really that I looked like Alain. Were some of the deaths that occurred truly... Accidents." He squinted, closed his eyes, and shook his head. "...
No, let's not be paranoid."
And with a deep sigh he shifted gears. "I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. But names are important things. They open doors, they carry weight. And part of me wants to- I don't know... Take the name and -do- something with it. Out of spite." He lifted his hands, again gesticulating in grand sweeps.
"You'd thought you'd seen the bitter end of the shamed house Kokinyu, but here we were, lying in wait- prepared to strike like a viper in the brush. You'll rue the day, etc cetera, etc cetera..."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 10, 2024 11:12:48 GMT -5
She chuckled, and rested her other hand on his belly, gently rubbing. "No, we should not be too paranoid. Just paranoid enough."
Konane stretched again, he could feel her abs tighten a moment under her padding and fur, before she relaxed again. "You are blessed with the wanderer's eyes, after all, it makes sense to take up the name. After everything is said and done, do you plan on going back to school? Or will you want to keep traveling? After Kyr... well, that would be the biggest fight, yes? I know we also need to go to Otori... I am not dwelling on it, but it is on my mind... If Alain knows how to contact people, maybe he can put that spell in the ring, and I can contact my mother again... She told me to stay away... But I should not leave her in prison for my crimes. She needs to be brought somewhere safe, or... we get rid of the problem in Otori."
She frowned, and sighed. "I do not know how to fix Otori. They have ways about them, not everyone agrees, but it is... hard to push progress in a land that is paranoid of someone being different, just because some fairy tale said so."
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Post by opius on Jul 11, 2024 20:40:42 GMT -5
Alastair sat up, propping himself so he could look toward her. He was enjoying the attention, but one thing she said stuck in his craw.
"Crimes- you had an accident controlling a power you never asked for. What was your crime- running away? Saving yourself? You knew what would happen if you got caught." He furrowed his brows and huffed before laying back down.
"And... I don't know- is it really your responsibility to fix a place that's openly hostile to you? Maybe it's enough to set the bar lower, save your family and..." He sighed, deflating as he closed his eyes. Did running ever work?
"... It's not going to happen overnight. I don't think we can talk to one person and get the country to change... The people need to want to change, and they need to leverage that against their rulers- to either negotiate or replace them. Like the Torchbearers to the Mareki." He looked to the ceiling.
"What we -can- do is remove Zychni as an influence, and rescue your mom. That's got to be our focus- excise the guy who benefits the most from this unrest and protect our own. Then, in time, we can work on the rest I think." He puffed his cheeks. "...as for me, I'm not entirely sure... My summer project got pushed aside. I'll need to check in with the Lyceum and petition for an extenuating circumstance hardship- basically ask them for a retry..."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 12, 2024 7:47:15 GMT -5
"There are plenty of Otonins who do not think things are right... between invading the Firbolgs, and the Vanyar hunters... I just... do not know how many. But not enough, for me to live in secret of who I am since I was 12."
She sighed, and laid back, head almost hanging off the edge of the bed. She looked around the room, focusing on various things in it as she thought.
"It is... probably for the best to bring my mother to wherever the other Hengeyokai are. They live in secret, somewhere, but I was never told where... I do not know much about them, besides what my grandmother has told me. She wanted to bring me there, but... her health was declining, and my mother wanted to do as my father wished- to live in Otori. We did not know when he would be back. For all I know, he is still out there in the world... I wonder if I could... try contacting him... I do not know how successful that would be, I only remember bits of him when I was very young."
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Post by opius on Jul 12, 2024 7:56:58 GMT -5
Alastair frowned and nodded. "Its a good idea... But I'm not sure how much better she'd be among the hengeyokai." He glanced back at her.
"... Think about it. Allowing a human they don't know to their secret hideout? Why, because she's the daughter in law of one of their own? I don't know what kind of pull grandma Tsukiko has, but you're young to be asking these people to put a lot of trust in your words." He looked to the ceiling.
"And people... Don't -do- that. At least, from what we've seen so far." He looked back to her.
"Plan B, she can stay on the ship. Or C, we can put together a care package and find her somewhere safe to live, at least until we can figure out how to push for change back in Otori." He quirked his jaw a little.
"And who knows, by then we might find your pa, or find a way to talk to him."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 12, 2024 8:08:02 GMT -5
"Mmmn... I guess that makes more sense..." She sighed. Why did everyone have to be so against one another. Even the elves had problems with other elves.
"I guess... we try and break her out, and just leave Otori. I think I need to learn that I am not going to be able to go back home. I will miss the harvest festivals..."
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Post by opius on Jul 12, 2024 8:13:56 GMT -5
Alastair nodded, the idea to smash, grab, and run was sound to him. Fewer complications, less risk- they could buy time and...
Oh. That was depressing. He looked back at her, tilting his head up while he rest his head on her abdomen. "... Well, on the plus side... Now you're free to check out the other harvest festivals. By then Illyria may have cooled off... We could see what things are like at the Iliya now that Dimitrios has been removed. Thorodin's a great spot for tourism, and we're well liked by Skyhammer. And then there's home- the Lyceum town, there's all kinds of customs for the harvest."
He started deflating at the mention of Liore, his tone shifting some as he was reminded of the current uncertainty there.
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 12, 2024 8:20:09 GMT -5
Konane nodded, and wiped at her eyes, sighing. "It is fine, I have found you. I have found Valor Company, and maybe someday I can go back home as someone different, so I can participate as a fake tourist." She chuckled, and ruffled his hair, looking down at him.
"Liore... we should go back there soon, do you think? You did mention you needed to... change something, yes? Your summer project..."
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Post by opius on Jul 12, 2024 8:36:26 GMT -5
"I..." He was stuck on a word or five and let out a deep sigh, shifting gears mentally as he mentally turned to focus fully on what was next.
"... Right. Yes. At first I thought Donal's crossing was a hiccup, but everything that followed has completely detailed my career plans." It sounded strange to speak on terms like that now, given what had happened.
"When I first set out from home, I'd taken on a journeyman's study. It's... A non-standard way to earn credits toward my mastery. Basically I'd go from town to town, find a master who'd take me on as an apprentice briefly so I could learn new skills and methodology. I'd curate and collate my findings and publish what I've learned, and the Lyceum would grant me the year's credit as if I'd attended courses like normal." He pursed his lips.
"This must sound like draconic to you... Basically, for me to finish my studies and be considered -done -, I need to achieve a number of points, credits. By taking courses and proving I learned what was taught, I could earn them." He folded his forearm over his eyes, sighing.
"I should still be at the school taking courses like normal, but when Fenderberrin passed I needed to get out and get a change of scenery. I brought up the book, the old Gnome's last words to me, and learned about the Journeyman's study. The school doesn't... -like- that option, so I needed to get a professor to sponsor- basically vouch for me and sign off on it." He pursed his lips.
"Turns out Ironfoot, my forgemaster, was an adventurer once. You know, the bicycle guy? Anyway, of all the professors I knew, I didn't expect him to be the one to bring it up and sign off. I half expect he wanted me out of his forge for the semester."
Another deep sigh. "But now that all this has happened... I'm so far behind. There's not a chance I'll be able to catch up. And if I fumble the ball, the tuition fee -and- my ability to obtain a master's recognition might be forfeit. I'm less bothered by the mark- my work speaks for itself. But Rose paid for my tuition, that's not mine to burn."
He quirked his lips again. "...I could just ask her how much it was and pay her back, but the principal of the matter stands. I need to try and make it work."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 12, 2024 8:42:32 GMT -5
"They would not consider... becoming an adventurer, finding the lost, first forge, and finding a magical item that makes you work better at what you do, something to consider for.... this credit." She blinked some, his problems were not as deep as hers, but it was still a problem he was facing.
"They would not... consider you saving the world from Hectapol some kind of..... something for this credit..?"
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Post by opius on Jul 12, 2024 11:17:09 GMT -5
He shrugged. "Rules as written? No, not technically." He folded his hands on his belly.
"If maybe my focus was archaeology and ancient arcane studies, this would be a -big deal-. Civic infrastructure, I could maybe angle my part in the lords alliance. I can probably get a few credits for my alchemic studies by learning from Klinkle's unorthodox methodology.."
He shook his head.
"But it's not a school of adventuring. I'm sure if I were to explain things I could get some form of amnesty. It's not like there isn't a world of proof justifying the circumstances."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 12, 2024 11:36:13 GMT -5
Konane raised her brows, and shook her head. "I am sure they will forgive you not doing your school work, since you were busy saving the world... I do not see why they would not. That is kind of silly... Now, if it was you, getting distracted with me, that is a different story."
She chuckled, and went to sit up, coaxing him to move, sliding his head into her lap as she adjusted. "But, you are not the type to go girl crazy. You like keeping your nose in the books, do you not?"
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Post by opius on Jul 13, 2024 11:51:42 GMT -5
He chuckled. "I'm absolutely not the type for that. Or boys either. Id wondered here and there, but I never got... Close, you know?" He shifted to rest his head in her lap, looking to the ceiling.
"I've had friends off and on, but I've never pined for another. I'm not exactly a social butterfly, and the company I kept at the Lyceum were pretty similar. We were all kind of... Into our own studies and did our own thing during my time there."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 13, 2024 12:03:18 GMT -5
"That is one of many things I like about you. You are more mature than most boys I have been with. I enjoy my time with you, and you always have something to talk about... be it your interests, or what is on your mind."
She never did quite stop petting him. She enjoyed it too much. Giving him affection made her feel a lot better, and kept the bad thoughts about home away.
"Now you are getting close with me... you seem to be enjoying your first few weeks."
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