Grin and bear it.

-

“Rune Magic, Cheshire. How much could you possibly know about the threads that build this world’s magical core?”

#tantibus-aeternam #thats not like you

He could have made the book disappear outright, or played keep-away in teh seriousness of the moment - but unlike his physical body, he seemed to understand the gravity the situation brought, and sought to ground himself on the matter. Physically, though? He continued to float, lighter than air - especially once he sighed.

He returned the grimace with a plaintive, imploring look of his own.

“I cannot say, Tybresa. I know much of other dimensions, some whose magical efficacy stems from a stream of pure mana that runs through the plane, and of dimensions whose magic has been tied solely into artefacts and physical objects, like a dam to send the flow of magic elsewhere. I know of beings who reside in the ‘Manastream’ itself, and have dedicated themselves to its protection and fair use. And I know of men and women who have abused its power, and met violent ends.

“But Valoran remains starkly different. There is no manastream, and Nexii Crystals seem to resonate with that same power in its place. Runes here seem far more powerful than other magics, but I cannot fathom why. And I know of ley lines, but not of any subtle significance they hold in terms of the magical geography of the realm. I should have paid more attention, I’m very much aware.”

#stalwartsteward

tantibus-aeternam liked your post:Everyone always takes the Tybresa's side. It's...

“Are you admitting it’s the right side to take, Nocturne?”

Something apparates upon one of the highest tomes stacked on the table. Individual stripes seem to split the air, followed by a feline body, a waistcoat and smile- and of course, brilliant blue eyes. The Cat stretches, but the stack of books that he sits on doesn't even wobble. "Good evening, Tybresa."

Tybresa seemed absolutely absorbed by the work she was doing, pacing around her territory like a caged animal, though her mind was racing as it leaped from one bit of information to another, her hands busy as they moved to reach from one tome to another, flipping pages and cross-referencing sentences.

It almost looked like she was oblivious to the creature forming in the small abode she made for herself within the Library, but as she passed by that particular stack of tomes, she stopped …

… only to sit up on her tip-toes in order for her hand to reach the Cat’s head, stroking the fluffy top with a familiar pet. “Hello Cheshire.” She said nonchalantly, before returning to her pacing and frantic book-searching.

// @smilesandstripes

A smile might have made an appearance on her face when Cheshire replied to the pat by purring, but it ended up being lost as Tybresa returned to the matter she worked on so ardently. She did not seem to give the cat much notice even as he was hovering around her, knowing full well that Cheshire Cat’s type of magic was as unique as himself.

She glanced up for a moment, looking at the book in question before she curtly nodded her head. There was no point denying him access - Tybresa knew of Cheshire’s ways. She trusted him enough so as he would not interfere with her work in a way that would affect her negatively.

“Magic.” She replied straight to the point, all the while flipping a page and skimming through its contents before switching to another tome - albeit, with a pause, looking up at Chesh with a wry smirk. “It is always magic with me, is it not?”

His eyes remained on hers, despite his apparent interest in the tome in front of him. Ears swivelled to their surroundings and Cheshire assessed their privacy, before the book shut and resigned itself to floating about him. He chose another, and then a third - that last one being the choice volume Tybresa had been on the verge of switching to.

“Yes, Tybresa, but what kind?”

He took the volume in his paws and gave it back to her, performing a forward roll in the act.

“Do be aware I’ve seen my fair share of magic both in and out of this world. I could likely provide insight. Both into alternatives and into making more clandestine methods less… clandestine in the eyes of others.”

#stalwartsteward

Yawn.

Something apparates upon one of the highest tomes stacked on the table. Individual stripes seem to split the air, followed by a feline body, a waistcoat and smile- and of course, brilliant blue eyes. The Cat stretches, but the stack of books that he sits on doesn't even wobble. "Good evening, Tybresa."

Tybresa seemed absolutely absorbed by the work she was doing, pacing around her territory like a caged animal, though her mind was racing as it leaped from one bit of information to another, her hands busy as they moved to reach from one tome to another, flipping pages and cross-referencing sentences.

It almost looked like she was oblivious to the creature forming in the small abode she made for herself within the Library, but as she passed by that particular stack of tomes, she stopped …

… only to sit up on her tip-toes in order for her hand to reach the Cat’s head, stroking the fluffy top with a familiar pet. “Hello Cheshire.” She said nonchalantly, before returning to her pacing and frantic book-searching.

// @smilesandstripes

#stalwartsteward #leagueverse

He rumbled in appreciation, leaning into her hand. In fact, he continued to lean even after she had moved on, gracefully rolling into the air and floating beside her. He was calm and almost lazy as he observed the continuation of her rather frenzied study.

"-May I?" He gestured to one of the books she wasn't using, and with her permission encouraged it to float over and open to a random page before him. He skimmed its contents, though one eye always remained upon her. After all, to see her working so furiously... it inspired a small part of him to attempt to do the same. Then again... it didn't particularly matter given his time frame. Still...

"What are we looking for, hmm?"

//Sorry I’ve been dead lately. Exams and all that.

“Ah.”

His grin gets wider, and he reaches out to pet the ghost - as if it too was a cat. Cheshire doesn’t mind the touch; though he does temporarily scrunch up his face.

~The ghost is purring. It appreciates this. This world is one of shadows and it reminds it of home, somehow.~

“Where are you from, mm?”

He continues to pet for another moment or two, before patting the spot next to him. A moment to sit and talk was good, regardless of who he engaged in conversation with.

#porchlight ghost

theswordarm

“The destiny of Man is protected. And challenged. Allowed to reach ultimate potential.” He said nothing of his own ‘heart-ache’. Though matter was indeed one that incited a subtle old ache.

Lucifer was still his brother. Though he did his duty, that would never stop being the case. Michael was not a creature prone to hate or resentment.

“We are not…all that there is. But we play our parts, him and I. Balance is maintained.” Slightly more open about the hidden agendas reached between the two these days. “Alongside other conflicts of Positive and Negative.”

#I'm sorry I am a late potato #and I don't tend to check Cheshire's blog very often or have muse enough for him #theswordarm

“Yes.... It’s better that way.”

Cheshire lapsed into silence. Competition and threats made others strive for efficiency and improvement.

He would not have been surprised had Michael and Lucifer made a deal or deals between themselves. At the heart of it all, ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ had to fall into equilibrium... though perhaps allowed to oscillate a little between the two to prevent complacency. It was better for all, whether those on one side or within the middle.

“Do you believe in true Good and Evil? That some beings are capable of such with no capacity for wrongdoing or, conversely, good intentions?”

“Well, I’m around.”

//...

#I am a potato #will reply to stuff one day

@smilesandstripes

~The ghost approaches you, purring. It has heard of your kind.~

The Cat inclines his head towards the ghost, and reaches out a hand. He’s curious as to whether his hand will go straight through or not; there are, after all, many different types of ghost.

“My kind, mm? Other Cheshire Cats, or the people of Underland in general?”

~Other cats. You are the first of your kind that the ghost has known.~

Pax touched the cat; it was a tangible ghost although not quite there, like tissue paper.

#PET PAT #porchlight ghost

“Ah.”

His grin gets wider, and he reaches out to pet the ghost - as if it too was a cat. Cheshire doesn’t mind the touch; though he does temporarily scrunch up his face.

@smilesandstripes

~The ghost approaches you, purring. It has heard of your kind.~

The Cat inclines his head towards the ghost, and reaches out a hand. He’s curious as to whether his hand will go straight through or not; there are, after all, many different types of ghost.

“My kind, mm? Other Cheshire Cats, or the people of Underland in general?”

#hello!#porchlight ghost

-

“Well. we could start from the beginning… Though even that is subjective. Tell of your creator, perhaps? Or… More to where my curiosity lies - how, if not why one of your number fell from grace?”

theswordarm

The matter of our Creator is…muddled. Beings of His nature have many…facets. Different sufaces to one gem, but of same stuff.

If you speak of my brother, he was not the only to Fall. Lucifael refused to love the peieces of Our Father found in Man upon His request; Finding these peices insufficient and not worthy of the same devotion he afforded for Father.

Lucifael’s conviction was stronger than his fear of punishment. My brother is very intelligent, but he lacks…temperance and wisdom. He reaches factual conclusions and leaves little room for intuition. He is also very strong and very independent. When he makes up his mind he does not often change it very quickly, if at all.

Believing that we were all making a mistake on the topic of Man, he sought to usurp control of Heaven and set matters, as he saw it, straight.

This caused war between us. Him and those that supported him againt me and those that supported. Many died. Ultimately, the war’s victor was decided by Father.

And I cast out my brother. For the death and pain. For my love of Man and Father. With the order of my Father. Shortly after He cast out Lucifer’s most loyal supporters.

Cheshire listened quietly, as if he were a child being told a bedtime story. To be honest, for all his years and everything he had experienced... That’s what he was, still. A child, a product of a dream before time and space. He had not learned discipline or restraint due to the extent of his abilities, and Curiosity always won out when he discovered something interesting. Perhaps he was to stay that way.

“Mmm.” He was thinking; the sound was non-committal and absent-minded.

“Then speaking of the issue must strike close to the heart then. Apologies... Mm. What about good? What good has come of the issue?”

There was always a silver lining to every dark cloud, literal or otherwise. Perhaps people found unity in fighting the darkness, perhaps it gave people the strength needed to fight. He was not best placed to know - interpretations differed wildly, and he knew nothing here.

#theswordarm

tantibus-aeternam

What's up, Nocturne?

Murder.