Memories of You

Muse Status Jade Curtiss - Active Saphir Ortion Gneiss - New Akihiko Sanada - Semi-active Sinon - Request only Irisviel von Einzbern - Request only ((Independent multi-muse blog. Tracking: eclecticxmuses))

[eclecticxmuses]

Change | mikleotheenforcer

[mikleotheenforcer]

    Believe it or not, huh? Mikleo quirked a rueful brow, crossing his arms over his chest. Color him impressed; Jade seemed like the sort who would be more dubious. But Mikleo would not complain about that faith. In fact it was.. pretty nice. Still, it had only been five years for Jade? Mikleo’s eyes widened. Incredible… such a disparity. Then again, it was hardly unbelievable; if they were from different worlds like they all believed, there were certain to be some differences… just such a substantial one was jarring.

    No wonder Jade looked so similar. To a seraph, five years… 

“What have you and your companions been up to as of late, if I may ask?”

    An innocently phrased question indeed, and while Mikleo knew there was likely a goal in the inquiry, he failed to see anything beyond personal piqued interest. Besides, there wasn’t all that much to say. He peered out to the town. “Well, I have majorly been here.” he said, gesturing with one arm before crossing it again. “It’s been interesting. Building the town, helping the citizenry, becoming Lord… much different than I anticipated.

    “As for the others…” Putting a hand to his chin, he pondered it for a moment with a quiet hum. “I believe Edna is in the north… Lailah is in Ladylake assisting Uno…” He gave Jade a sardonic look as he said, “And who knows where Zavied has gone.” A true enigma; the wind seraph popped by from time to time, as did the others, but at least the girls told Mikleo where they were headed. Zaveid just… wandered. To each his own, he supposed.

    With a light shrug, he asked, “It has been relatively peaceful for a good while, though. It’s nice…”  He stole  glance sideways. “And you? What brings you back here?” And don’t say something like ‘it was on the way’ or anything…

[eclecticxmuses]

“My, my, you’re a Lord now? That’s quite the promotion; you have my most sincere congratulations.”

No mentions of Sorey and Rose led Jade to believe that the two have long passed on, which Jade made a mental note of. Everything else Mikleo said seemed to jive with his initial impressions of the seraphs he met during his first visit, up to and including Zaveid’s “own pace” course of action.

It was certainly interesting how human the seraphs acted, considering how humans seemed to revere them, or so Jade recalled from his last visit. Perhaps that aspect changed too since they last met.

“Well, I just wanted to visit my favorite seraph; is there anything wrong with that?“

He allowed himself a chuckle. “Though I do mean it--I’d like to know more about this world--to be particular, Seraphic Artes.” Perhaps there was an answer to his long asked question regarding alternative sources of energy. “My last visit here did not leave much time for gathering information, and I was also thinking that a guide might be useful this time around. And Yulia bless, I have one right in front of me!“

He grinned at Mikleo, none too comforting. It was one of his smiles people normally had a difficult time refusing, unless of course they were ready to face the consequences.

[eclecticxmuses]

We doing positivity stuff?! THEN I MUST ADD MY TWO CENTS. Kat has been Senpai to me since day one. She took me under her wing and taught me everything I know about RPing. Without her, there is no me. She's been with me every step of the way, and I couldn't be prouder to call her friend, colleague, and more. She is the world to me and I can never thank her enough. So, Thank you Kat. Thank you for all you've done. Thank you for molding me into the RPer and Man that I am too. Luv you~

OMG those were very long overdue reblogs that I meant to get on this blog, but thank you so much for your kind words, Lunar! You are too sweet. I’m glad I have been able to help you and more! Thank you too for being you!!

[the-king-of-the-wind]

@eclecticxmuses 

[Other Kat!! I am absolutely honoured to know you. You have such talent for writing, your characterization is always spot on and your threads are so well crafted. You spin incredible stories with your writing and always take me right into your character’s mind. Our conversations have been so much fun and you are so great to plot with and just chat with about our characters. I was so glad to see you back and so glad to be able to keep writing with you! Never stop being amazing!]

[seleniamuses-archived]

@eclecticxmuses liked for a positivity paragraph!

{OH MY GOD so this is so late because my internet and motivation to do anything is horrible and I sincerely apologise! But onto the positivity, I don’t think I have interacted with you, and if I have, it was very briefly but I kind of remember you on my dash! Of what I have seen though, you’re a brilliant Jade (one I’d definitely like to interact with at some point if you don’t mind me saying that) and I can’t wait to see your Dist! Keep writing and keep being awesome!}

[talesofepeolatry]

@eclecticxmuses liked for positivity!

    Hey hey, friendo! I’ve not actually written with you all that much, but what I have written, I have thoroughly enjoyed! The relationship between Mikleo and Jade is really interesting and I feel like there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. It should be super interesting, and I really look forward to fleshing it out more! As for you, we’ve talked a couple of times, and by goodness you seem really fantastic! You’re so friendly and easy to talk to, and so very helpful whenever I ask questions! I sincerely appreciate it, and would love to talk to you more in the future! I hope nothing but the best for you, really! <3

[eclecticxmuses]

RP Checkpoint [27/06/2016]

I owe replies to: mikleotheenforcer, cratesfullofmuses

I owe starters to: promisesandcontradiction, snarkomancer, fragmentedxmuses

Other updates: AU page for Jade (including an explanation of how he fits in Minky’s Vesperia AU)

---

Well, I’m back to work for the rest of the week; will try to work on starters during my free time. Might be busy because of deadlines though, as well as my other sidelines. Also, Minky’s Vesperia AU is still killing me.

[bravingpathstogether]

Ren had lost count of how often her parents gave her that advice, that it was alright to rely on other people–how often she told Gilbert, who seemed set on tackling his burdens on his own, the exact same thing. It never occurred to her that she had the same problem. Unknowingly, she kept a considerable amount of distance between herself and everyone when it came to problems she deemed much too personal.

Chasing Gilbert was a personal thing–that lone selfish request she asked of herself. Did she not rely on her friends when she came to them for help, or was it all just pretend? 

No, Ren would never drag just anyone into one of her selfish schemes. Only trusted people. Special people.

I’m so stupid, she thought. They must be worried sick right about now. Making them worry was the last thing she wanted to do, and running away to look for Caleb in her feverish state and with a floppy arm did not help her predicament at all. 

“Perhaps you have some friends who are willing to undertake this endeavor instead of you?”

“I do,” came her immediate response. “Without a doubt. I’m just… really bad at sitting still.”

Understatement of the year. Twiddling her thumbs and doing nothing while everyone around her worked themselves to the bone had been Ren’s ultimate weakness. She, more than anything, wanted to be useful, to be the opposite of being detrimental to their cause. That’s why Estelle hated it whenever Ren got sick. Always doing sit ups, stretching exercises where her mother would rather she stay in bed… she was the worst patient ever.

Wiping the last of her tears, Ren found the strength to finally pull away from Jade. She made sure the heat in her cheeks faded away before turning to face him again.

“You sound like you speak from experience.” No surprise, given his age–or so she assumed. An old man in a cave all by his lonesome? It would be an insult to all the cliches out there had Jade not offered sagely advice in an attempt to guide this lost youth towards the right path. It was almost comical, in a sense, if you ignored the feelings involved.

But while she worshiped the art of comedy to a certain level, Ren lacked the ability to wholeheartedly laugh right now.

“If this is too personal, you don’t have to answer, but… what are you doing in this cave by yourself? You going somewhere?” If he was, Jade seemed to be in no particular hurry to get there, but she allowed a pregnant pause before continuing, “Where are your friends?”

[eclecticxmuses]

It was hard to imagine Yuri Lowell’s child as friendless, and if anything, Yuri seemed to be the type to pick friends of the dependable variety. There was a tendency for children to take after their parents, and he wasn’t surprised to see that Ren had a similar conviction as her father did, and by the sound of it, she has friends of the true variety.

The Jade of the far-flung past would have laughed at the idea of relying on friends or the idea of having them, but experience was quite an excellent contrarian, and to this day, he held the notion of relying on friends to a relatively high regard.

And so when Ren pulled away after her confirmation, he dared to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that her brother’s case was not a lost cause.

Well, looks like the worst is over.

…Or so Jade thought, until the ball was tossed back at him. Nay, shot with the force of a high caliber weapon.

With Ren feeling better, he thought that the worst of the night was over, but perhaps that was the case for her only. He was about to give her initial inquiries a vague response, but when she raised the next one after a long pause, it took all of his self-control not to burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all.

“This old man over here, have friends? Best joke I’ve heard in a while.” He allowed himself a small chuckle, betraying none of the inner turmoil he felt at the subject. “I work alone, can’t say I’m good at taking my own advice.” He shrugged noncommittally. “I’ve kept it in mind because it worked for others.”

And myself. Not that it mattered anymore. Ren had enough problems of her own, and there was no way Jade was burdening her with the knowledge of his own crises.

“As for why I’m here, let’s just say I’m an old man who has made too many an enemy.”

Hiding lies behind the truth was quite an effective way to conceal things, after all.

“For now, I’m not going anywhere. It’s not like these old bones can move very far anyway, and I’m quite comfortable with the unspoken mutual agreement I have with the wildlife of this place.”

He let out a derisive laugh before continuing, “And you, Ren? Have you decided what you’re going to do now? I believe this is around the time I should say ‘trust in your friends and their capabilities’. Will you be taking this advice or do you have other plans of your own?”

[bravingpathstogether]

Her muffled sobs got caught in a hitch when arms wrapped around her and she was pulled in, glassy green eyes widening ever so slightly. Jade did not come across as someone who would hug a crying girl, not with his seemingly no-nonsense attitude. His type always hated her type. Just look at Edmund.

And yet there they were, painting the strangest picture of a stranger pulling another stranger close, hand rubbing against her back in ways that frightened and comforted her at the same time.

A hand gripped at the material of Jade’s sleeve; she had given up on the idea of stanching her tears for now. Mourn for her loss? Why? Ren hadn’t lost anything yet. Perhaps she almost did at the start, when Gilbert left, and her happy, imperfect little world shattered. Other people said she was betrayed by her best friend, but she thought Gilbert had to have his reasons. Their memories, their feelings… they weren’t lies. They were things that mattered to him, and she knew it.

So when he ran, the only thing she could really do was follow after him, chase him for the answers. Ren had a hard time letting people go, and now that Gilbert had returned, she was grateful to herself for not giving up on him. She had chased him around even when battered and bruised, even when she could barely move or speak. Caleb deserved that same respect. And she would give it to him.

Let it all out? But her life was a constant cycle of releasing herself and wreaking havoc on the world. Ren was very in tune with her emotions, even the darkest ones she left buried underneath smirks and mischief, but that didn’t mean she had to display her vulnerability like this. You don’t let people see when they get to you. You’d only be giving them another reason to take advantage of you. To fool you.

“I… I’m…” She was like a fountain now, a constant flow of tears. The world seemed to blur through her glassy eyes and the ache in her chest could only grow worse. They’d all be so angry when she gets back. A disappointed Aria, an angry Meg, a hyperactive Don, a worried Alex, an even more worried Gilbert… a slightly obstinate but still worried Edmund… would all be waiting for her–would probably dump her in a boiling hot spring and strong arm her into promising never to do that again.

And yet… and yet… Caleb wouldn’t be there.

Mom and Dad… they’d never show it, but their family would never be the same if they lost Caleb. If only Estelle’s bloodline affected her, too, made Ren a Child of the Full Moon. Then maybe she and Caleb could switch places. Ren wasn’t much of a loss for the world compared to her brother. Her brother was important. He was special. The world needed more people like him.

But Ren? She was so terribly ordinary. A small existence whose only redeeming trait was her tendency to dream big. Who could only work so hard to get what she wanted, to put in the largest amounts of effort just to get Gilbert back. Gilbert, the only person who seemed to think she could go places, who did all those terrible things for ‘people like Ren.’ But what good would come of believing in a person like her?

“I wish I was stronger,” she said between hiccups.

They would have laughed. Renilda the strong and wise. That was the meaning behind her name. It also meant brave, resilient, and a lot of other inspiring things. Everyone seemed to think she wore it well, thought she was strong. Unstoppable, a raging storm that rent down anything in her path, and for a while she believed it, but then came loss after loss, she was forced to realize how powerless she was without her friends, that she had been far from the strong person they all thought she’d been. “I wish I had power… to protect what matters.

[eclecticxmuses]

While hugging came a little more naturally to Jade after all those years, prolonged physical contact still greatly discomfited him. Yet, he held on for Ren’s sake, knowing that once he let go, the spell would be over.

He knew that it was presumptuous of him to say all those things. He knew nothing of Ren’s history, nothing of her little brother, nothing of the circumstances that resulted into her arm’s sorry state. Only that desperation drove her to run away in an attempt to search for her little brother.

And into the arms of a stranger, baring her heart for everyone to see.

Given Jade’s personality, it was unusual that he bothered comforting her to this extent, but it was all rooted in a selfish desire to mourn through Ren’s sadness. It was strange, but seeing her so vulnerable—so tearful and so broken—eased some part of his heart that had been aching since he arrived in this world. It was almost like she shed tears that he could not, healing a small portion of him that had been festering in his inability to mourn for his loss.

“It takes a different kind of strength to be honest about your feelings.” A strength I horribly lack, he almost said.

He raised his head, studying the cavern walls while absently holding the other. “And, all the power in the world—”

Is meaningless when the world desires for its own destruction.

The words do not escape Jade as he abruptly paused, then let out a bitter laugh at his foolishness. Just then, he was about to relate the story of his powerlessness at stopping Auldrant’s fate and the loss of his comrades, then realized the absurdity of such an act. Now was not the time for him to take his own advice and to bare his heart to a stranger. Right now, he needed to be the adult in the situation, because the last thing the world needed was him burdening a child with his own problems.

“Pardon me.”

“In times of weakness,” he changed tack wearily, chest heavy but tone mercilessly even, “when we stumble, fail, or make mistakes, there’s nothing wrong about leaning on others. There are limits to what one could accomplish alone, and then there are those that are simply impossible for a single man to do on his own. This is one of the many reasons why people seek out kindred spirits—friends, in a manner of speaking.”

Friends he didn’t have, and friends that weren’t coming back.

“Perhaps you have some friends who are willing to undertake this endeavor instead of you?”

[bravingpathstogether]

The silence he provided only served to add to the looming tension around them, as she waited, as he kept on without so much as a flinch. Ren had no idea what this stranger was thinking, but something in her words seemed to compel the man to introduce himself. Or perhaps, he thought it best to change the subject for some reason.

“Ren,” she said with a smirk. “Ren Lowell. I might stick with ‘Old Man,’ honestly.”

The light in her eyes had been brief, for when Jade continued, she could feel every ounce of amusement leaving her body. Those words, that kind of reasoning… she was sick of hearing it. Her friends reminded her of that fact almost everyday. Even Gilbert… Gilbert whom she thought would understand… the futility in repressing her stubbornness. Ren had always acted rashly, but she always acted according to her feelings. Every single decision she made had been doubtless.

But ever since this stupid arm broke, she changed. It made her realize how weak she was, how utterly useless, how the only thing she really had going for her was her adept skill in fighting. Now Ren was nothing more than a sword with a cracked blade, just waiting to be discarded.

You can’t save anyone in your current state.

The words cut so deep, she flinched.

Really though, Ren couldn’t save anyone no matter what state she was in.

She wasn’t used to this… to feeling so fragile. It seemed everyone relied on her and she drew strength from that trust. Now circumstances had reduced her into this huge lump of uselessness, who only managed to drag people down into a pit of depression and rage. What could she do now? What could she possibly do alone? Like Jade said, frank as he was, she wouldn’t last on her own, would–

Huh?

Ren brought a hand to her cheek. Surprisingly damp–and her immediate reaction was to turn away from Jade and conceal the pathetic sight. Why? She wouldn’t be caught dead crying in front of anyone, had held it in for so long so her friends wouldn’t have to worry. Even lashing out would have been a better reaction than… than this.

It was finally sinking in, wasn’t it? Everything that had happened. No one had to witness her tears save for Jade, who was basically a stranger. She’d rather shatter before his eyes than before her friends. It’s fine. It’s okay to be weak in front of someone just this once.

In front of someone she might not meet again.

“I’ve never been particularly good at dying,” she said through gritted teeth, still not facing him. A hand moved to discreetly wipe a tear rolling down her cheek. “What else am I supposed to do? By the time I recover, it might be too late. What’s the point in waiting? It’ll all be for nothing.”

Caleb… I just want to save Caleb. Why is everyone getting in my way?!

Her hand covered her face, muffling her next words. “Please, just let me save my little brother.”

[eclecticxmuses]

It was a miracle he managed to keep a straight face even after hearing her name and sighting that all too familiar smirk.

Ren… Lowell. Lowell…

There was only one other person he knew that bore such a name. And it was then that his vague recognition from earlier fell into place, letting in more unwelcome emotions as he processed this bit of information.

Could it be… Yuri Lowell’s child?

There was that joy in finding a familiar face.

A foolish hope that maybe, other people made it out of Auldrant.

And then, the cold, harsh realization that Yuri originated from another world, and this might be very well his home planet, so to speak.

No one made it out of that disaster. You know that very well, Jade Curtiss. You saw them all taken away from you, one by one.

And then the end came, and nothing remained except you and your cursed existence.

And so, he buried those feelings under the name “Miss Stranger”, hoping it’s enough to distance the two of them and these blasted emotions.

Yet, as she flinched and tears unconsciously started rolling down her cheek as he bulldozed through the truth of matters, he could not help but pity Ren as she averted her gaze from him. He felt no remorse over his harsh words, for each of them rang true of her situation. But still…

“As I am.”

As if driven by an instinct other than his own, Jade wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing Ren close to him in a firm hug.

He smiled ruefully as he gently ran a hand down her back in practiced strokes of comfort, remembering how and when this unnatural act started to feel more instinctive. Despite his irredeemable dislike for crying children, there was something about the frailness that she displayed that reminded him of a certain redhead who would cry himself to sleep whenever they faced and killed humans in the course of their journey.

And it was in those sleepless nights where he learned how it was like to hold another human being close to him, and figured out the best ways to comfort another in their grief. Uncomfortable as physical closeness was, there was no denying its therapeutic effects on highly emotional individuals, and as Jade later discovered, can be more effective than words.

“Just cry for now,” he said quietly as he closed his eyes briefly. “Mourn for your loss, then rest. You can worry again in the morning.”

He pitied her, yes, but at the same time, he envied her for being able to wear her heart on her sleeve, and to be so honest with her feelings. Her ability to mourn and thus, heal from her heartbreak. It was an ability he lost a long time ago, as atonement for his sin of innocence. He could not mourn even if he wanted to, or cry out and lash desperately against the world that had dealt him such an unfair hand. It was all gone—along with everything he every cared about.

Instead, he could only silently bear his festering wounds, and ask of her what he could not do himself.

“Let it all out, Ren.”

[the-king-of-the-wind]

A Light in the Sky | Open Starter

[the-king-of-the-wind]

“It’s quite alright, think little of it,” Richard shook his head briefly. The poise and respect with which the man spoke certainly did not infer the type of background that bred bandits. Perhaps it his uniform, but the manner he carried himself seemed more military, was more reminiscent of one of his knights than a thief, though Richard knew better than to exclude the possibility completely. “You’re right that I was not expecting any company; that you startled me likely inevitable.”

Richard continued to try and gauge the other, though found it to be far more difficult than he expected for someone who had spent the better part of his life learning to see through the nobility and their hidden intent. Other than the manner he regarded the fireworks, the mysterious man was impossible to read. His expression, his intonation, it was all flawless. If he bore a hidden intent then he betrayed nothing and that was equally intriguing as it was worrisome.

“The catacombs?” Richard repeated thoughtfully. No memory? It was strangely reminiscent of Sophie, and in a place that had no small involvement in such affairs. Richard had the entrances to the catacombs watched by the knights given the knowledge they led to the castle no longer a secret among much of his men. After using it to reclaim the castle, Richard had seen to it that people did not begin exploring out of curiosity or desire to investigate rumours. The monsters made such a place dangerous even without the risk to security. However, given the festivities, it would seem that a few posts had been left open. He would have to review that with the head of the guard.

That did not explain the man’s memory loss, however. Had someone left him there intentionally? Had he been attacked by a monster? Or was it simply a convenient story to try and lower his guard? He would lean towards the last if not for the fact the man had openly introduced himself; had he truly wished to kill Richard, he likely could have landed the blow while he distracted by the fireworks and saved himself the effort.

“Not the safest of places to find yourself, especially with no memory. If you woke with a headache, I can’t help but wonder if you were injured and that the reason you cannot recall your reason for being there. Should I see if I can find a healer? There ought to be some on duty among the festivities. Perhaps once it heals, your memories will return.”

“Ah, forgive me,” the monarch answered. “My name is Richard,” he offered, omitting his title and watching the other closely for any manner of reaction, in case he simply confirming his target. When he did not seem to make any manner of aggressive motion, the monarch briefly turned his head back towards the skies. “Once the fireworks have finished, the streets ought to clear a bit so it will be easier to move about. They won’t be terribly much longer.” Richard was almost sad that they nearly over. The light blooming in the sky never failed to make him smile. It was truly a breathtaking sight.

“I hope something is able to jog your memory, or perhaps if you are fortunate you have a friend among the crowd who has been looking for you.”

And hopefully not an enemy. If the manner he had felt the need to assess whether Richard a foe was any indication, he had enough that his memory lapse had not made him lose his caution.  

[eclecticxmuses]

Richard, huh? With no last name at that. Was it a custom of this world, or did this person hold some sort of special title in this place?

Jade could not help but wonder about those things as he watched more of the lights dancing around the sky and leave faint traces of various patterns before disappearing a few seconds later.

“A healer would help, I suppose, though would prefer to walk around first in hopes of finding something that would jog my memory, as my headache is not as bad as it was a while ago and none of my memories are coming back.”

While a healer had the potential of blowing his cover story, Jade decided to bank on the chance that by the time they get to one, it would be easy to claim that his headache disappeared by then. Besides, seeing how healing artes worked in this world was in his agenda, considering how they have been in a decline since they stopped the Planet Storm.

“Perhaps it’s possible that my head injury is unrelated to my memory loss and someone could have hypnotized me into thinking certain things.”

“In the meantime, it would help if you could guide me out of this place. I haven’t the faintest idea how to get out of this castle and would greatly appreciate any guidance you can offer me.”

[bravingpathstogether]

The one eyebrow raised betrayed the chill running down her spine. Ren was good at hiding it, but the man’s smile was terrifying, to say the least. “Oh, I don’t doubt you’d split me in half easily. What was that arte you just did earlier?” She scanned his belongings or any kind of accessory he donned, then frowned. “I don’t see mana tech on you.”

The only people she knew who could use artes without some kind of medium were… Estelle and Caleb. The Children of the Full Moon, in other words. Come to think of it, something about this man felt… different. She couldn’t quite place it just yet, but it’s there.

At his insistence that she go back to town, however, Ren dipped her head down. She grabbed the cup beside her and slid her thumb against the rim.

“Hey,” she began. “I’m sure you have people you care about, more than anything… more than your own life. Everybody has them. Some just don’t know it yet.” Everything she did, she did for her friends, for family. Her entire being moved with the whimsies of her heart and her freewheeling soul. Her father had drilled it into her head–do right by others and they’ll do right by you. It was a principle she didn’t mind living her whole life for. So she trusted people, even though some didn’t deserve it, and she loved them, despite their self-loathing.

Ren absently stared at the ripples in her tea. “One of those people… was taken from me. I just can’t let that slide. I want–I need to get him back, before it’s too late,” she said, desperation and conviction both painted in her eyes in different shades of green. Her body might have been weak, but her will certainly wasn’t, and if that would be her only driving force right now, so be it.

She met the stranger’s gaze, unflinching. “Even if you drag me back to town or tie me up somewhere, I’ll just run away again. So don’t stop me, old man.”

[eclecticxmuses]

Jade listened to her ramble, gaze blank and unflinching as each of her words somehow managed to hit a sore spot in his chest—more painful than any physical blow those coliseum creeps managed to land on him.

He expected her to reason out, of course. There was something about her tone earlier that indicated that she was not going to back down easily from whatever his insistence was going to be.

But this surge of emotion was something he was unprepared for, and like a leaf carried away by a powerful tornado, he was helpless against the flow of thoughts that resurfaced in his mind as he made the mistake of looking into what was reflected in her eyes.

Pain.

Helplessness.

Desperation.

Conviction.

And so much more.

All of the emotions he decided to discard as he numbly forged his life through this new world.

Of course he had people he cared about. Of course he cared about them more than anything. Of course he would lay down his life for them, especially if it meant they’d live.

But all of them were long gone, and Jade, more than anyone else, knew that there was nothing in the world—any world—that would ever bring back the dead.

Only an empty promise remained, and the painful desire to see them again.

Noticing that he had gone stiff at her words, he finally spoke after a long moment of silence.

“Jade Curtiss,” he said evenly as their gazes continued to meet, managing to keep his tone even as he spoke. He didn’t know why, but somehow, it felt right to use his real name instead of the alias he started using since he arrived in this world. “’Old man’ also works, but perhaps you’d prefer an alternative.”

“My method of casting artes is unimportant. What’s much more pressing is this concern of yours. While I understand where you are coming from and that nothing I say will change your mind about going off to some god-forsaken land to find this said person, let me tell you an unfortunate truth.”

He pushed his glasses upwards and took a deep breath, bracing himself for the backlash his words would receive.

“You can’t save anyone in your current state. Tell me, how do you plan on saving this person without a weapon, much less a useless arm? At best, you’d be granted a swift death by the residents of this cave once you stray away from me. At worst, it would be a long and protracted death by limb separation, depending on which monster gets to you first. Is that how you want things to end? Dying without saving your most cherished? If you want to save that person, don’t let yourself get carried away by your emotions and think through things a bit more thoroughly, Miss Stranger.”

[eclecticxmuses]

Project GHS

@characterofstrength

As a seasoned soldier, there were a lot of unpleasant things that Jade had to do in the line of duty. He reasoned that such was part and package of the life he signed up for, but there were times like now where he wondered if someone up there was out to get him.

“...Erston, that is the third GHS you have broken.” Jade sighed heavily. “Please note that those are fragile technological devices that you're holding and not the vital points of your enemies.”

Whoever said that thing about "three times a charm" was definitely lying, and if possible, Jade wanted to have a word with them. Quickly apologizing to the shopkeeper and handing him some gald to cover the damages, Jade ushered his charge out of the shop and into another one. All in hopes of finding a GHS that would fit a certain King Gaius. Of course, it all had to be undercover, for how would the general populace react if their king couldn’t, in fact, properly use a GHS to save his life?

...Either way, this punishment seemed rather extreme for whatever his past sins were. Hopefully, a nice, long vacation involving a spa would be in his future after this endeavor.

[elysalark]

The suddenness and finality of the response caught Sorey off guard. Jade had been so willing to demonstrate the technique after all, the Shepherd hadn’t attributed too great of a cost to it. The other had mentioned the side-effects, but…

“Oh.” He had no illusions that it was something he could master on the spot, and there were likely many other underlying techniques and theories one would have to learn first.

“I know it can’t be easy and I don’t mean right now– but I was just wondering if you could teach me? That wasn’t a Hidden Arte, was it? I’m just curious how it works.”

[eclecticxmuses]

At Sorey’s reply, Jade visibly relaxed, sighing in relief. Looks like there won’t be a repeat of the past--at least for now.

"I apologize for my abrupt response. It’s not a Hidden Arte per se, but the last time I detailed the process for one of my techniques, some rather... eager people decided to put it into practice despite lacking some fundamentals I explained in the manual. As a result, many of these people who attempted my techniques often ended up losing their minds or a vital function of their body such as their sight.”

He pushed up his glasses, glare fogging them up for the moment. “A lot of the techniques I have developed tend to have irreparable side effects--perhaps you can say it’s a signature of mine.”

He paused, allowing himself to stop at that statement. Too much had been said, and Jade could not help but be amused at the openness he displayed to someone who basically amounted to a total stranger. Strange as it sounded, there was something about Sorey that reminded him of Luke and the latter’s innate ability to make certain things come to surface.

Shrugging noncommittally, Jade let out a small grin, deciding to let the conversation take its course given that thought and what he had seen of Sorey’s abilities. “In any case, I suppose I can teach you the core concepts behind the arte, as long as you promise not to attempt doing it without my say so.“

[bravingpathstogether]

A sudden gust if wind forced her back down, letting out a sharp breath when her back fell with a thud. She squirmed for a while, but the name of the place had her frozen.

The Weasand of Cados…? That meant she hadn’t gotten very far. If she remembered correctly, on the other side of this cave was the desert. Mantaic, even. Perhaps it would be a good place to search next. Yuri also mentioned that Judith lived around there, made a home out of desolate Mt. Temza where the famous Great War took place. A strange choice, then again their bunch had always been a bit… eccentric, to put it mildly.

The man continued. She recognized the irritation in his voice, had heard it numerous times when her superiors would speak to her. Sometimes it even doused Flynn’s voice whenever she did something flashy with her fighting style, and she’d be met with rolling blue eyes. But the eyes of this man were hidden behind the glare of his lenses. It intimidated her, embarrassing as that was.

Her gaze fell to her left arm when it was mentioned. Ren seemed to have calmed down a bit, now that the haze in her mind started to clear. She still felt weak, of course, but at least the world had stopped spinning. Her brows knit into a frown and emerald eyes grew dim.

“Amputate, huh?” She was actually considering the idea, and a bitter laugh escaped her. “It might as well be the same thing.”

Ren closed her eyes, sighing deeply. It was the first time she had felt so relaxed for the past few days. Back with everyone, there was a tension lingering in the air around them, and honestly it would only be a matter of time before it broke, shattering everyone in the process. Their concerns made it hard for her to breathe, and Caleb… the thought of Caleb’s eyes filled with so much fear and pain… They could be torturing him right now.

Ren sat up again, slowly this time, eyeing the man as if to reassure him that he wouldn’t have to deal with her frantic flailing a second time. She reached for the cup and nodded graciously. “Gee, thanks.” Tea reminded her of Estelle. Of home. And in turn, family. “Man, I hate tea.” But there was a slight upturn in the corners of her lips anyway, even as the rim of the cup pressed against them. She took a sip once (and probably never again) then set the cup down beside her.

At the offer, Ren ignored the throbbing at her temple and shook her head. “Nah, I think I’m getting used to this headache. But… uh… you saved me, right? Sorry for freaking out on you, old man.”

Given the circumstances, however, it was understandable that she’d react that way. Besides, their entire journey for the past few months hadn’t exactly been the most peaceful. She’d been a light sleeper in the first place, but lately there’d been more reasons for her to keep watch at night. More demons to tame, and… even more nightmares to delay.

A wink of sleep was impossible. Of course she’d pass out eventually.

“I can’t stay here,” she told the man, expression turning serious. “I can’t stay here any longer than this.”

[eclecticxmuses]

Jade met the other’s gaze head on, red eyes meeting surprisingly emerald ones. He briefly studied her features, keeping his expression neutral the whole time. There was something that seemed quite familiar about her, though at the moment, he could not quite place where he last saw similar features on anyone. In all honesty, he wasn’t quite sure he wanted to remember who resembled her.

After all, it was probably someone who was dead already.

He relaxed slightly when she finally took the cup he set out, allowing himself a tiny smile of amusement at the girl’s reaction to his tea. Despite her claims of dislike, she still smiled as she took a sip of the tea, as if remembering a fond memory. He himself could not help but sadly remember the old days, where he’d offer his preferred amango tea to his guests, oftentimes accompanied with laughter as his younger companions talked fondly about their children and parenthood.

He’d never admit it out loud, but he missed his friends terribly.

“It’s not a problem. Though it’s true that if I arrived a moment later, we won’t be here, speaking so casually right now.”

Perhaps in the afterlife, where anyone who ever mattered waited.

He nodded in response to her refusal to take him up on his invitation, though continued to keep the healing items out, just in case the other had second thoughts.

However, his relief was short-lived, for she uttered certain words he hated on injured patients.

“Oh?” He raised a brow at her. “Where might you be going, then? Back to Nordopolica?” Unlikely, but it was worth mentioning. “If so, I can escort you back in the morning, as I’ve been planning to do so anyway after you rest for the night. However,” his casual tone became layered with warning as he continued, “if you were planning to cross this cave into the desert, I’m afraid you’ll have to reconsider your plans, as I absolutely refuse to let someone in your condition pass.”

He gave her the best cheerful smile he could manage. “While these old bones are out of shape, I believe it would still be a wise decision not to try them. So kindly rest until the morning, and I’ll bring you back to town as soon as possible so you can get proper medical attention.”

The dark circles under her eyes did not go unnoticed, as well as the side comment about her arm. Letting someone in her condition go off was something tantamount to suicide, and hell if Jade was about to let her go after all the trouble he went through just to ensure she did not end up as some random monster’s dinner.

[eclecticxmuses]

bravingpathstogether:

He’s probably scared right now.

Caleb often acted as if nothing could bother him, but Ren knew him too well to buy any of his excuses. She could predict how he’d react in almost any imaginable situation, and vice versa. They were close. Closer than most siblings, for they were taught to feel strongly about family, blood-related or no.

And Ren had a lot of strong feelings about her baby brother getting kidnapped.

So she waited, closed her eyes until only darkness could be seen through the inn window. She waited so long she almost fell asleep herself, but when every breath fell into a steady rhythm, and the expected snoring from the others reverberated across the room, the time finally came.

Her footsteps were silent. Just as her father had taught her. When you needed to sneak away or sneak up on somebody, you needed to make yourself light. Glide, don’t step. Walk in the path the shadows had lined up for you, cautious but swift, then vanish without so much as a trace. And she vanished, indeed.

The frigid air sliced at every part of her skin save for her left arm. It sent goosebumps popping all over. Pissed her off since she couldn’t even rub her right arm for warmth. Muttering a curse under her breath, she thought about the cloak lying forgotten on her bed. It was too risky to go back now. Ren would have to deal with dragging her feet across the fields with buckling knees and chattering teeth. And if Ren were anything at all, she was determined.

Her axe served as a good substitute for a cane when she walked–limped–as if the ground were made of cement. It probably wasn’t a good thing that her chest burned and her breathing was ragged, especially when she supposedly had the best stamina out of everyone in the group. Just… why was she so tired? How could the body she had tempered into steel for twenty long years be broken by a measly wound in a matter of days? It didn’t make sense, was she… had she always been this weak?

Dammit, world! Stop spinning!

Ren gritted her teeth, fought her way through dim fields and the occasional monster attack, until every muscle tore apart at the seams. If they had seams, anyway. Even her mind wasn’t making sense now.

Caleb. She forced herself to think, the haze in her mind only slightly clearing when the cave mouth came into view. Ren dug on the ground with the pole end of her axe as if it was the only thing moving her, as if her legs had started malfunctioning and if she let go of her makeshift cane she’d trip on them and crush her arm under–

Wait, why was her cheek so cold?

Ren blinked. The whole world had turned sideways and her body lay flat on the ground. Was that her axe in the distance? How did it–

Oh.

Apparently, that last scenario hadn’t been hypothetical at all.

And everything was darkness.

—-

Ren quietly woke to the slight warmth of a fire. Only her eyes moved, as if the rest of her body was still asleep, until the nerves around her neck caught up and she could turn her head and sweep her gaze around the… cave… That’s right–she saw a cave before she… When did–how long was I…?

“Ugh,” she propped herself up with her right elbow, shaking her head swiftly to hopefully drive the incessant ringing away, but instantly regretted it when pain shot through her temple. Her eyes squeezed shut and opened again. “Where–” she gasped.

She wasn’t alone!

Ren sat up and groped around for her axe. Why now? She can’t fight now! Not in this state!

"The Weasand of Cados." Jade hastily moved the lantern out of harm's way, transferring it to his opposite side as the other flailed around, presumably looking for a weapon. "And now that I have answered your question, perhaps you'd want to lie down." Biting back a sigh at the other's agitation, he continued flatly, "Unless of course you're eager to open your arm wound again and have a random stranger living in a cave amputate it in case it becomes infected." ...Though perhaps it might have been too late for the said arm, considering how it seemed to hang uselessly by her side--an unusual occurence given how worked up she was. He casted a small, warm wind in the woman's direction, using it to force her back down. While he understood why the other reacted the way she did as he would have done something similar as well given reversed situations, he simply did not have the patience to deal with it and would rather have a peaceful night. Then again, he already forsook the opportunity for a quiet night with his decision to take a stranger into his "living quarters". He stood up and took out the lone cup and pot from his makeshift cabinet, heating the latter with his hand, which emanated a weak fire arte. Once satisfied with the temperature, he walked back and sat next to his patient, then pouring out some liquid from the pot into the cup. "Tea." Jade took a short sip before offering the cup to the other. "Feel free to check for poison, though I believe I just did so." Taking out a roll of bandages and a small pot of balm from his nearby pack, he continued, "Do you need anything for your head? I can bandage it for you in case it's difficult for you to do it yourself." Judging by the other's reaction upon waking up, it would look like the other was suffering from a bad headache. In Jade's tiredness, reluctant as he was to admit it, he seemed to have missed treating any head injuries the woman might have incurred. It took a while, but perhaps age was indeed catching up with him.

[eclecticxmuses]

RP Checkpoint [24/06/2016]

I owe replies to: thekingofthewind, elysalark

I owe starters to: characterofstrength (it’s actually a WIP, finally), promisesandcontradiction, snarkomancer

The above listed owed starters are planned. As usual, with regard to RPing, I’m just an ask or message away. I’m always open to plotting and the like! Or random starters if our muses already know each other.

I have also finished reconstructing Jade’s personality section a few days ago, as well as added a bit more detail to his bio page. The latter isn’t that useful but I do enjoy writing up an invented bio for my muses oops.

[eclecticxmuses]

@bravingpathstogether

The Weasand of Cados, in every essence of the term, was a place full of danger. A cave filled with vicious monsters, complete with deadly twists and turns, it was a place no one in their right minds would visit, as there were less risky modes of transport one could use to get to the other side of the desert. The rumors of the place playing host to a giganto monsters did not help its reputation any, and as such, the townsfolk of Nordopolica did not make a habit out of visiting the place.

But for a certain Jade Curtiss, it was, quite literally, a sanctuary. Precisely for the reasons that people avoided the place, in fact. Being an unknown who cleared the nastiest of challenges in the Nordopolica Coliseum in record time, it was a feat that earned him both the admiration and ire of the townsfolk.

Of course, it was all thanks to his unique way of casting, and as far as Jade unfortunately knew, he was the only one capable of doing so in this world. The fundamentals present in the world were simply no match of Jade’s more inexhaustible resource—the fruits of his careful research into the matter of energy and spell-casting.

Still, powerful as Jade was, there was one thing all the riches in the world could not afford him, and that was a good night’s sleep. Being a light sleeper to begin with, his nightmares about what happened a few months ago did not aid his quest for sleep at all, much more some misguided fool’s attempt to murder him in his sleep for all the loot he acquired as a coliseum victor.

Jade would have shaken off such an attack as a one-time matter, but then it happened the next night. And the next. And then the following day again.

While no bodies were made as a result of those mishaps, having to fend off attackers in the middle of the night was a matter that Jade found tiresome, and for that reason alone, it was enough for him to look for alternatives to an inn, with the main criteria being a place where he wouldn’t be bothered while he was resting.

And so, upon learning of the existence of the Weasand of Cados, he decided to turn the place into a makeshift base of sorts, banking on the chance that even vicious monsters had more sense than humans not to bother an individual who was clearly way more powerful than them. Primal instincts were a lot more predictable than human emotions, after all.

It was on the third such day of his living arrangement that he found a lady sprawled by the mouth of the cave he dared to call a home. Tempting as it was to ignore the person, doing so would leave her to a fate involving monster feed and he could not, in good conscience, let someone die a miserable death when there was something he could do about it.

After all, there was enough blood on his hands already.

Doing a quick check of the person’s vitals to ensure that he was in fact about to take care of a living being and not a corpse, he managed to carry her into the corner of the cave that he made into a small room of sorts. Propping her against the wall, he applied some medicine to the deep stab wound on her left arm and replaced the bandages that came undone. This person was lucky indeed, considering how he kept a healthy stock of healing items on him, as well as him encountering her when he did. If he didn’t find her at that particular time, the monsters would have made short work of her as they are wont to do.

Tossing his lone blanket over her, Jade proceeded to light a small lantern with a fire arte and placed it between the two of them, sitting down next to her and resigning himself to keep watch for the rest of the night, as the monsters might think of his new companion as ripe for the picking if he weren’t awake to keep an eye on them.

It wasn’t like he was eager to rush back to the realm of nightmares anyway.