desolation breeds desperation.

  are you defined by the worst moment of your life? / aff. with vraelgard

[alkemistry]

thelcstlight​:

“I mean, yes, I do speak.” he couldn’t help but scratch against his helm at the stranger’s approach, to have someone so fond over him was so new that he forgot it was much the same as his Crew fantasizing over thunderclash ( he still didn’t liked the guy ) “Wait– Wait.” Holding his servo up with a small snort to add, “You thought I was a robot, right? Made by a human or something along the line.” Usually, how humans would turn to, he has seen his fair share of their movies to now what this individual was thinking. 

“First off, I’m not a robot. Defiantly not made by humans, I’m what you folks would call ‘alien’ life form. Yes, there are robotic aliens out there, not to mention, I’m called a Cybertronian.” He dearly hopes they understand what he was talking about, “I’m very much living as much as you are, buddy. And, I used to be tall.”  

Varian tips his head to one side not unlike a puzzled animal. It’s as though the other is reiterating some common response, answering questions before they’re asked; it’s very obviously a list of information meant to nip assumptions in the bud and clear up any confusion before it can take root, and Varian takes a brief second to try and wrap his head around it all. Not a robot, huh? And yet he refers to himself as ‘robotic.’ Just... alien? Still though, unless that’s all armor, he’s got to be a work of technology.

❝ Huh? Really? ❞ Varian wonders, curious. His expression creases with the slightest of frowns, thoughtful. Though interesting, the explanation doesn’t appear to have dampened his glee over the ‘robot’ in the slightest, nor has it dissuaded him from the general idea. The quizzical look on his face quickly reverts back into an eager grin.

❝ But-- but that’s all mechanical, right? That’s amazing, ❞ he says, delight in every syllable. He's practically gushing, and there’s a breathless sort of tremble to his words, as though he’s barely holding back an excited giggle. ❝ I’ve never seen anything like-- um. Y-you... ❞

[ysther]

[alkemistry]

almdros​:

  Hild watched him carefully as he entered the room, not particularly welcoming his presence but not repellent of it, either; had she truly not wanted to be interrupted, the fault was hers for not closing the door, so it is with a quiet and steady disposition that she allowed him to gaze upon her work. Although she was not one for picking up on social cues, the way he took care as to not step on her drawings was blatant enough for even her to notice.

Upon being asked about the designs on the floor, she gives him one long look before returning her gaze to the schematic she had been working on.

“ … Yes. Redesigning, specifically. They took my bow. ” Hild could not bring herself to be too irritated by the fact–what they took was replaceable, and she could not claim to be a seasoned hunter if she allowed such a minor setback to disturb her. As long as she still had her life, she could rebuild as many bows as she needed to.

But with limited supplies, scrapping together a temporary weapon proved challenging, which reflected clearly in her drawings on the floor. Although the messy schematics all belonged to the same objective, they seemed as though entirely separate weapons at different steps in the process as she would develop an idea and later discard it, evidenced by the scribbles covering up half-finished ideas.

Finding that her concentration was gone, she looked up from the drawing to once again peer at the child’s face. He appeared completely enamored by her schematics, but she could not trust the accuracy of her perception, especially when it came to reading facial expressions. “ There aren’t many kids your age who are interested in things like this. ”

The floor is well and truly covered in drawings to the point that there’s actually very little clean space left. Varian edges further into the room, eyes wide, turning to take them all in. Perhaps if he were paying more attention to the woman herself instead of her sketches, he’d be a tad unnerved by her silent stare, but instead he’s very much distracted by her work.

There’s a stretch of silence before she responds; her eventual answer prompts him to look up. ❝ Huh? They took it? ❞ he repeats, gaze finally breaking from what’s at his feet and to the designer herself -- but she’s already turned her gaze away. His brow furrows, a sour look flickering across his face. The information isn’t surprising, really; it only makes sense that kidnappers would strip prisoners of their belongings, after all -- but the thought is an unpleasant one nonetheless. There’s nothing that can really be done about the whole kidnapping situation right now, however. (Though later, there will definitely be something to be done; he will make sure of it.)

Varian’s gaze drops to the floor once more, mulling over that information while continuing to eye her sketches. A lot of them are incomplete, but there’s easily potential for... creative adjustments. Midway through that thought, the woman’s additional commentary draws his attention to her again, and he turns to blink at her with wide eyes.

❝ Oh, yeah, ❞ he says quickly, acknowledging her words with such haste that it’s almost dismissive. There’s barely any pause before he continues on, as though he’s in a rush to get to what he really wants to say. ❝ Actually, hey, maybe -- maybe, I could... help you? ❞ It almost seems like it’s meant to be a suggestion, but the way his voice pitches higher at the end transforms it into an awkward sort of question instead.

❝ I mean, I’m, uh, pre-tty knowledgeable when it comes to, ah, the science of this sorta thing, ❞ he adds, folding his arms over his chest and shooting her a look that’s undeniably smug. There’s a grin on his face that’s just cheeky enough to look confident.

[alkemistry]

He circles the entire city. It is completely barricaded from the outside world; tall stone walls reach so high into the clouds that he has to tip his head back to see the top, and though there are proper exit points, the guards refuse to let anyone pass. While such isn’t entirely unexpected, it’s still frustrating. It really only serves to reinforce the idea that the city is just an elaborate prison for all of its kidnapped citizens. Varian has no access to his lab and nothing on him because the kingdom had stolen it... or, well, no -- it’s more accurate to say he’d been stolen, not his things. But either way, it becomes very apparent that he has no real means of immediate escape after walking along the walled-in outskirts of the city.

Eventually, the sun begins its descent and the sky darkens enough for the city’s lights to turn on. He’s making his way back from his trip along the outskirts when it happens: the lanterns atop the tall metal poles that line the streets flicker to life, and he startles... and stops. Varian frowns, eyes narrowing, and steps over to the pole nearest to him, squinting up at the light perched innocently out of reach.

❝ How’d that happen...? ❞ he mutters under his breath, eyeing it contemplatively. Varian lifts one hand and raps on the pole with his knuckles, earning a dull clang-clang that echoes in the mostly-empty streets. The thing about lights is that they need to be lit somehow -- and from his vantage point, how that occurred isn’t all that apparent. He circles the pole, looking for an access point. Maybe there’s some sort of mechanism within it that’s set to light it at a certain time ----

There’s a noise behind him, easily heard now that the streets have long since become deserted as the hour grows late. He stiffens, snapped out of his curiosity, suddenly recalling the vague warnings from when he’d first arrived about... what was it, people disappearing in the middle of the night, attacked by a beast? Sudden dread crawls up his spine, and Varian ducks behind the nearest object, which is... the pole he’d been examining. It doesn’t make for much cover -- or any at all, actually -- so it’s with great relief that he turns to find... just another person. He visibly slumps forward, sighing.

❝ Oh -- ohhh, hah. I thought you were--... um. ❞ The relief melts off his face, becoming something more like a sheepish sort of grimace as embarrassment sinks in. It’s not even completely dark yet. ❝ Uhh... Ne- never mind. ❞

@luciianoir​, that startled me. (starter call.)

[binary-bird]

i’d only watch the series for one (1) broken alchemist

[alkemistry]

thelcstlight​:

@alkemistry​

“Well, as much as I like to be stared by folks, doesn’t mean I like the constant attention.” Yes, he was a lot shorter than he usually was which frustrated him, but the constant stares he’s been getting from folks around him seemed so stranger. He really doesn’t blame them for noticing his nice features, but the individual seemed to look as if they had a question in mind. 

“Ok, I bite. Do you have something you want to say? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” 

It is impossible not to gawk. The moment Varian catches sight of what is, truly, an absolute technological marvel, his jaw drops, eyes stretching wide. It is considerably more sleek than the automatons he'd built modeled after the one from beneath Corona’s castle -- why, in comparison to this, those were terribly clunky.

...And it speaks?! It can pick out something as subtle as his expression and comment on it?!

The shock on his face quickly dissolves into a grin. He eases closer, eyes practically glittering, looking beyond giddy. ❝ Fascinating, ❞ he breathes, more to himself than anything. He’s never seen something like this before. ❝ You’re capable of speech! Oh, wow -- that- that’s incredible. ❞

[alkemistry]

The city is steeped in superstition and talk of magic. It is utterly inescapable; step outside and there are temples and statues dedicated to magic. Walk far enough away so those are out of sight and there’s something else magic-related within view. Even seemingly mundane locations like parks have rumors about mysterious happenings that are then chalked up to magic in some way.

One of the supposedly magic temples that Varian comes upon has pools of water that are -- surprise, surprise -- also magical. People seeing things in the water sounds more like the result of some sort of hallucinogen than magic to him, but the city’s populace seems to assume anything strange is somehow linked to magic, and this is just another to add to the never-ending list. But either way, magic water does pique his interest -- not because he actually thinks it’s magical, but just out of curiosity of its composition, which is presumably abnormal in some way if all the talk of it being magical is anything to go by. He drops down in front of one of the pools and eyes it for a moment before pulling out an empty glass vial from the pocket on his apron and dipping it into the water. He then corks it and tucks the vial away again.

Is taking temple water illegal? It’s hard to say, really. In this kingdom, kidnapping people from elsewhere and barring them from leaving is apparently just fine, so whether taking the magic water is punishable or not is really anyone’s guess. Varian glances up and around briefly; he hasn’t been reprimanded for it, so either nobody cares or they’d not been looking. With an acquired sample in hand (or rather in pocket), he leaves. Outside, the sky is starting to burn bright orange as the sun sets. It’s somewhat blinding, actually -- and he trips on a loose stone, crashing to the ground with a yelp. The glass vial slides from his pocket and onto the ground and Varian pounces on it just a second too late to be unnoticed. There’s someone else before him who’s doubtlessly seen it and Varian’s not so far away from the temple that it couldn’t easily be linked back to that yet.

(...There were guards there. Maybe taking the magic water is illegal after all, who knows?)

Varian angles a look at the stranger, a sheepish, uncomfortable grin plastered upon his face.❝ Uhhh -- ha! Er, I-I was just -- um. I dropped something. ❞ A nervous chuckle. He’s clearly attempting to sound casual, but instead achieves something far more awkward. ❝ But, uh, it’s nuh-- it’s nothing. Not really. ❞

@heartconvict​, this isn’t suspicious at all. (starter call.)

[alkemistry]

This kingdom that had kidnapped him had taken away his lab.

...Well, actually, that’s not true. His lab is probably exactly where he remembers it, but seeing as he no longer has access to it as a result of being kidnapped and relocated somewhere completely unknown, it’s currently as good as gone. And that means he has no supplies, no materials, nothing -- which is really not ideal, especially in a kingdom full of interesting foreign technology he’d like to study. (Oh -- and also run by his kidnappers. Having nothing on hand isn’t so great for that situation either.)

However, despite the city’s strangely advanced tech, it seems almost ridiculously obsessed with magic. Or at least, that’s the impression he gets after finding a section of the city that’s positively dedicated to it. There’s an almost offensive amount of stores and such all related to magic, and once Varian’s stumbled upon the cluster of them, there’s so many that it’s almost impossible to stumble back out of it. He eyes the storefronts with open skepticism, steering clear of them as best he can (which is actually pretty hard, considering they’re practically everywhere). One thing does catch his eye, though -- an object that looks to be made of glass, without the telltale magical-looking design flair that everything else here seems to have. From a distance, it looks like something that could, maybe, actually be used, something that isn’t... magic. Or at least, it doesn’t look magical; Varian scoops it up to inspect it, but fumbles it. The object flies out of his hands as though it’s slick and covered in butter. He yelps and makes a dive for it, managing to catch it before it hits the floor, but the move ends with him sprawled awkwardly on the ground, nose right at someone’s feet.

Varian cranes his head back, expression melting into sheepishness, and gives a toothy grin. ❝ Oh, uh-- S-sorry. ❞ He lets out a short, nervous burst of laughter, springing back to his feet, the object clasped safely between his hands as he returns it to its perch. His gaze flicks to the side, embarrassed; there’s a beat of hesitation before he speaks up again. ❝ Hey, umm--... I was wondering -- d’you know if there’s any places in the city that have stuff that isn’t... uh... this? ❞

@calidsaint​​, please, there’s got to be someplace else. (starter call.)

[alkemistry]

It turns out that ‘quills’ that don’t need a separate inkwell are plentiful in this kingdom, considering one of the markets he’s come across has an entire section devoted almost entirely to them, all in varying colors and thickness. It’s really, really fascinating -- and Varian’s keen on figuring out how exactly the ink inside is stored, among other mysteries. He snags one of them from the shelf and pries the cap off, eyeing the sponge-like tip that’s revealed with visible interest. What about the ink? Maybe if he can unscrew the rest of it he can better examine whatever cartridge there is that’s inside, but this one’s seam is barely visible and he can’t seem to pry the thing apart with his bare hands, meaning he’d probably need to break it open. But considering the vast array of other options present, it’d really be far easier to try another one first.

Varian moves to pop the cap back on the one he has while simultaneously trying to reach for a differently styled marker on the shelf and though he manages just fine with the cap, his semi-blind reach misses as his fingers hit the side of the container instead, causing the entire bunch to pitch forward and scatter noisily across the tiled floor. He lets out a surprised yelp, taking a quick step sideways as though moving to try and catch them before they roll too far, but his foot hits one of the rolling markers instead, and slides out from beneath him. Varian crashes to the floor with a grunt.

He pushes himself into an upright sitting position, blinking and turning to watch as one of the markers rolls far out enough to catch the attention of a passerby (well -- if everything else hadn’t already caught their attention, that is). Varian pops to his feet, scrambling to chase after the wayward marker. ❝ Oh! Uhh--! It’s okay, I’ve got it! ❞

He almost slips on another marker.

@edgejumped​, it’s fine, this is all under control. (starter call.)

[senoleaf]

Everyone has a breaking point.

[alkemistry]

almdros​:

  Everything was fresh and new, alarmingly so; not knowing the nature of her surroundings could warrant a swift death sentence, and the inherent anxieties inspired by this unfamiliar land were only exacerbated by the replacement of her crossbow with a flimsy toy made of material she could not begin to name. Though she endeavored to keep her wits about her and steadily found her way through the foreign yet familiar procedures required to secure her footing, it lurked in the back of her mind that she had been taken here without her know-how – somehow, in some way, she got hunted.

Knowing that she could not effectively proceed unarmed, she dried up the funds provided by her captors as soon as she became aware of them, gathering up as many supplies as she could afford in order to begin construction on a new bow. She did not project it to have the same prowess as her previous crossbow, but as she stood over the lumber, metal, and tools laid scattered across the common area of her living space, eyes darting between the pieces, she knew she could find a way to make it work, and knowledge gave her control. Settling onto the ground, a black marker in hand, she began scribbling a mosaic of schematics over the floor–those messy black lines which made bare the blueprints for a machine capable of taking life.

The front door had been left open as she worked, and even though the craft of engineering carried her mind further than any other activity, she still remained an indelible hunter, a predator from the mountains, ever diligent of her surroundings. She knew that a small presence approached the threshold to the room, and her hands stilled slightly before she turned her head in acknowledgment of the one who observed her.

There stood a child, about the age that he was, maybe a little younger. Youth was no longer a reason to indicate innocence, though the boy seemed more curious than anything else. But, indeed, she knew better than to be eased by mere appearances.

“ See something interesting? ” She deadpans the question, fishing for intent. (Whose child is this, anyway?) / @alkemistry​

There is something ironic about kidnapping royalty, only to then wake up and find oneself kidnapped... by royalty. Albeit, it’s different royalty altogether -- foreign, unfamiliar royalty that Varian has never even heard of -- but it still feels a bit like a deliberate jab.

He’s rushed through some quasi-meeting with the princess of this kingdom, but it’s strange; she’s not actually there. It’s like her image is being displayed on some sort of screen. How exactly that’s being done is a mystery; she doesn’t even appear to be in the same room. The intrigue of it all actually serves to partially distract him from the whole kidnapping situation, but though he tries to dart in to get a closer look at whatever mechanism it is that’s allowing them to show her likeness with such clarity, he’s shooed away and into the city with the rest of the audience who, judging by the lost expressions on their faces, are likely also unfortunate citizens from elsewhere who’ve been kidnapped by this city’s royals.

Varian feels thrown off, like he’s got whiplash from the suddenness of it all. There’s a noticeable gap in his memory when trying to connect what he last recalls to his apparent kidnapping. He’s still sour and reeling from the whole thing when he makes his way to whatever place was assigned to him. It’s in passing through the building’s hallway that he finds himself sidetracked by the neighboring room. It’s impossible not to notice -- there’s drawings inked across the floor, schematics he only gets a glimpse of before stopping so abruptly that it might be more accurate to say he skids to a halt in a way that’s almost comical. Whatever concerns he’d had about his whole situation are forgotten almost instantly in his fascination.

❝ Oh -- woah, ❞ he breathes, eyes going wide. For a moment, he hovers at the doorway, visibly intrigued. In fact, he’s so enthralled by the diagrams that he is only vaguely aware of the person responsible for them speaking.

❝ ---- Huh? ❞  Varian blinks, distracted. ❝ Oh, uhh. Wait, did y-... did you draw all these? ❞ he asks, inching forward slightly into the room to get a better look at the mass array of sketches across the floor. There’s even more of them visible with more of the room’s interior in view. He tiptoes around them as carefully as he can -- if this woman has just been drawing them, the ink probably hasn’t dried yet. Something like glee lights up his face as he takes them all in. ❝ This is amazing. You -- you’re designing weapons? ❞

[alkemistry]

a little late but here’s a starter call for this disaster child, uncapped!!

[vraelgard]

better late than never, am i right? my reserve expired ages ago, but here's varian! app is under the third link (if you hover over it, it says 'application') or under /app!

the city is open to you, babie. babie boy. sweet little bean. welcome to terra.

you will be housed in twin apartments A5, where you will find a DIY baking soda volcano kit, just to give you something fun to do while you’re here. sure, it’s not real alchemy, but... just go with it.

you have been granted luna’s boon anti-gravity to make use of at your discretion.

♠ rook

[trainwreckgenerator]

this is gonna be a brief obsession

[rivailles]

[alkemistry]

Varian + being adorkable