UUU: "Test and Recovery"

Cast: Nyrandisa (Netha) and Seed (Deme)

TLDR:

Support Points Earned: 2

[10:32 PM] NethaEmerald: Nyrandisa had, over her course in travelling with Zain's pack, picked up some peculiar interests she seeked to know more about, given her... perhaps infamy, and affinity, for dark magic amongst the pack. Sure, she had seen things like Light Magic sparsely in use, and anima being used for more mundane element damage, and sure, there were always weapons. However, none of those caught her attention. The one that did? Staves. More specifically, the healing aspects of it. She was kind of tired of having to attack and cause harm to others to find use in Zain's pack. She wanted to satisfy her more kind side. She felt she was close to a breakthrough in her own capabilities to be able to delve into more of the magical arts. As a result, she had secluded herself to a clearing a good ways away from the port city. With her she had her diary, which was closed, a book which was empty, an ink well and quill... and some sharp objects like a knife and sharp needle. Around her was a green aura, which was her regen enhancement. She figured a good way to study healing was to harm her and stury how her enhancement healed up the wounds. As a result, she was periodically poking herself and causing small cuts and studying how they closed in her clean book. She had doubts she'd get too far here, but understanding how it worked was the first step to being able to replicate the effects.

[10:59 PM] LadyDeme: Seed was stalking through the landscape until it became a maze. Until the area around the city became as like a dense labyrinth of coastal lands, interspersed with the odd copse of salt-tolerant trees, who were twisted by the coastal wind -- it was not that the suburban country was truly impenitrable, but that he'd paced and stared, at the sky, at the ground, at the gnarls of his bare feet, until he couldn't simply idle his way back until he settled. Coward, coward, you wretched fool, you rubbish given feet. Why were you born -- why were you given a mind? He thought to himself, his face fevered with a miserable grimace. He'd been repeating thoughts like that, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter, for some time now. The scene they'd seen before leaving Rettati played out in his mind. Then he came to the copse where Nyrandisa was performing her experiments and froze, his thoughts momentarily pushed back -- by the sight of his ally hurting herself. He blinked back hot tears in his surprise, his body swallowing back most of his mood, lingering only the trace of his regret that fueled him into an out-and-out dash to her side, one hand reaching for her. "Nyra, stop! What are you doing to yourself?"

[11:05 PM] NethaEmerald: She hadn't noticed that anyone came close when she made a tiny cut and watched it heal right back to normal. It was nothing more than like a tiny nick on her skin. However, as she brought the blade away from herself, a barky hand tool a hold of her, and a familiar voice called out, asking what she was doing. She turned to look at Seed, worry on her face because of his reaction. In response, she explained "I know it looks bad. But it's not. I'm observing how my own body feels and reacts to my own healing capabilities by means of the regen field I can set up." She motioned all around her to the faint green light in the air. "I'm not causing any damage to myself. My reason for this possibly insane act? Learning how to heal. I have the potential in me, but understanding how it works, and maybe how to channel what I have, could allow me to mend the wounds of others, instead of only causing."

[11:24 PM] LadyDeme: He relaxed, a little, his shoulders sagging with relief and, frankly, exhaustion. Seed's hand let her go, and used that same hand to push a wild strand of leaf-hair out of his face, from where it'd fallen some time ago. He let loose a sigh and gave her a wan, helpless smile. "I'm glad you're not trying to hurt yourself; you certainly did scare me... But. You know, there is a more sensible way to learn to do such a thing." He looked at he circle, and then back to her, inclining his head as if to give a suggestion. "I think it's not an absurd approach, this idea of mine... You might have utilized your resources better... And, at the very least, with less pain to yourself."

[11:26 PM] NethaEmerald: "Sorry to scare you..." She admitted softly, looking away a little. She meant to cause no brown leafs to form in Seed's hair from her own action. However, as he seemed to imply parting some of his knowledge onto her, Nyra looked back. "Oh? You seem to be implying some means of teaching, which I suppose would be better than pricking myself and recording the sensation and actions that occur when I heal back up."

[11:45 PM] LadyDeme: "I'd be always be happy to teach you what I know; I'm not even sure how much a Jera's enhancement is like a staff -- Suleiman would understand that rather better, I think," Seed said in a tone that took a fair amount of his energy to rouse, a reassuring of course I'm happy to teach you tone. It was not a lie, it just wasn't where he was. He looked about, fully aware now that he'd gotten a little lost. That was the goal. "I don't have a staff with me for demonstrations just at this moment, but I can explain a bit of the theory."

[11:48 PM] NethaEmerald: When he pointed out his lack of staff, she laughed softly and responded with "That's okay. Perhaps theory is best. And who knows? With what you can tell me, perhaps we'll learn how similar the two healing methods are on our own." She made room for him to sit down if he so desired by moving her books and tossing the sharp things a good ways away, but still in sight. In her movement of everything, her personal diary opened up, but all it showed was a mostly blank page with a few words: 'I don't think this 'Jo' character is under their own control.'

February 27, 2018

[11:15 AM] LadyDeme: He watched the objects land in a heap away from them, chuckling under his breath at the abrupt shove-aside all her workmanship got. He sat down, crossing his legs beneath him; as he relaxed, the root-balls of his feet unwound a little, worming the way into the dirt. As he settled down, his eyes fell on the journal; a barbed feeling dug its way into his heart, reminding him of what he'd been thinking before he arrived, and "Ah. My apologies...It was rude of me to look." He sighed, a little more tired-sounding than usual. "I... well. Lesson first, I suppose." He thought about the feelings he had when he was working his magic; it was different than the little charms and spells he knew. More special, he supposed. "Staff magic is a magic of will; I don't necessarily find it demands prayer, though one with a prayerful heart ought to pray. The staff knows itself how to make the magic healing, it's built-in. What you provide is direction; what to heal. It makes certain types of injuries a little tricky, but that's important to recognize, too. And what you provide is power -- and a heart. The magic of the staff always feels somewhat personal to me. You bundle up something of yourself in there, your faith or your peace or your kindness, and allow the staff to run it through you like a conduit... Perhaps that's just fancy, but that's a place I worked from from the beginning."

[12:10 PM] NethaEmerald: As Seed remarked on her own diary, she remarked " I suppose it is a little rude, yes. However, if I didn't want it to be read, I should have taken better care to make sure it stayed closed." She listened to him talk about his perspective on healing with a staff. She felt she would be capable of doing the same thing. However, she was busy focusing on how it related to her own enhancements. She normally channeled the energy inside of her into an aura to help or hinder. She could control what came out, but didn't feel anything until it took effect. "Hmm. I know with my enhancements, I think about the one I want and channel that energy from within me."

[4:00 PM] LadyDeme: "I see... That's very interesting. Do they feel different to use, or much the same?" It wasn't as if he'd ever be able to fully understand what doing that sort of magic directly, without anything extra, or anything between yourself and the world, was like -- it'd be the sort of thing to pull a sigh from him, albeit a wistful one. But he was trying to hold back, and so instead move along, gesturing with his hands to try and tell a tale of the movement of energy, of the self and the other, just sort of moving them along with his words. "Of course, the staff does require some directing; it's crafted full of the way to make the energy healing energy, it amplifies and pours that forth. But it's a tool; it cannot identify a wound, only repair it. With the background of an apothecary, you'll probably do fine at that, though other staves need other sort of direction, by their needs. You focus on your goal as much as yourself."

[7:00 PM] NethaEmerald: The Jera thought on what Seed had said for a little bit. She knew how her enhancements worked, but putting them into words was a little more complicated. However, she decided to use things the Florkana had explained to her just a moment ago. "They all do feel different. Jera focus on what kind of beneficial field they want to set up, and with that focus in mind, and the desire for it, we channel the innate magic we have into a form that aids others, be it friend or foe. I guess in a way it's similar to your staff explanation: we focus on what we want to do and channel it into an outward form. How exactly the healing one works i'm not 100% sure on. That curiosity led to my self-experimentation today, even if it seemed to imply much worse things."

[7:05 PM] NethaEmerald: "However, your 'apothecary' analogy is giving me a little too much credit. I might like herbalism, but seldom have I healed any wounds not my own with natural remedies. Regardless, I do understand what you're getting at."

[7:18 PM] LadyDeme: He filed this information away; it told him little enough of what he was really asking -- for a feeling -- but such things were hard enough to put into words. Seed smiled and shrugged, stretching out an arm to prop him up as he sat back. The other topic, then, brought a little 'o' of surprise to his face, before he covered it up with a patient smile. "Healing your own wounds at least means understanding them; that matters a fair deal ... Although, I suppose I'd rather taken it for your vocation, for all the interest you showed it when we met What do you do, then, when you're not on... Rather unfortunate investigations?" He paused at that for a moment, and beat the feeling down with a sharp internal jab at his own wholly metaphorical and distracting heart. Not that it stopped that weariness from rising up under his actions, and so settled his weight a bit more on that one arm, and into the soil.

[7:27 PM] NethaEmerald: "Well, I was on my own for a long time, never really interacting with anyone. As a result, I know the most about Jera anatomy for healing my own wounds. All other anatomy is a little lost, as well as what can work on them, but I have a general knowledge on what can work on them. I also grew up in a Jera community with little contact to most other races. However, I am learning, but books and knowledge on that subject are hard to come by when we're constantly on the move between places without many resources for me to learn from." She eventually slumped back herself, but ended up having her hand slip on the grass and fell onto her back. She made no attempt to get back up. "So I suppose the desire to heal comes from that herbalism desire in me. Would surely make it easier to help cure others." She added on with a small laugh. "But that's perhaps a little more lazy way out, and I still want to learn anatomy and natural medicine to other races. Along with cooking. I just don't understand how Kano eat the things that they do, let alone how to prepare it."

[7:57 PM] LadyDeme: "Ah... I understand it, that sort of life. I think I do, at least. You certainly learn a lot of things that way -- even if others are... Yes, rather lacking." He sighed at last, unloading his breath until his chest felt hollow. He followed her flop down with his eyes, leaning forward with a momentary concern before he was sure she was fine there, on the ground. The grass was fairly soft, though it still had the faint sparking feeling, like a static in the air, from it being home to an enhancement for a while -- the soil tasted somewhat acidic and salty, sand and clay and the faint wash of old saltwater. The trees here were hardy ones, he reflected. The thought felt like a lazy fish, circling close to the surface of his mind; the lake of thought below seemed calmer that it might have been, its old and muddy depths stirring. After a long, reflective pause, he continued, catching a breath again to do so. "They feed into each other -- the anatomy, and the staves, and the medicine.... I'm a little less sure about the cooking, but it's too valuable not to learn anyway, among... Oh, I don't know. Most people, I suppose." He reflected in it with a trace of humor -- it wasn't as if cooking wasn't a little valuable to him. But he knew it wasn't the same; or how to phrase the gap between those to whom a stable food supply was essential, and those to whom it was just entertainment -- though he was not sure some sort of entertainment wasn't a luxury. He chuckled at himself. "Though perhaps that's an unfair way of putting it."

[8:21 PM] NethaEmerald: Nyrandisa knew that most didn't appreciate good cooking. In fact, with all of the movement that they had to do recently, she was not able to make a good meal for herself even, despite wanting her to do so. "No: I understand. Most don't care much for really good cooking. Just enough to drown out any tastes they don't like. However, I can tie it into herbalism. Recognizing recipes is similar to remembering what certain plants and minerals do. In turns, that furthers my knowledge of healing. And also in turn to that, people that are healing for a while need to eat... Almost as if everything I do feeds into a circle on it's own." She remarked. As she remained on the floor, her mind quickly wandered onto other topics. She knew part of what she wanted to do in the future, however, the more emotional and affectionate side in her, the desire for a family or a partner at the very least, came into her head. She had given it some thoughts, but never acted on any of them. Out of impulse, she asked "Well, I know where I want to be in the future. Most of it, anyways. But where do you see yourself in the future? Both in what you do for the pack and outside of it?"

[11:12 PM] LadyDeme: "Ah, that's not... What I meant at all." Seed said, his branches drooping a little in the disappointment. He shrugged it off. "I meant that it's more valuable to just about any race than to a Florkana, who only eats only for the company and the pleasure of it, rather than any need." For a little while, he was also silent, pondering the question of the circular heart of the world; the way things combined together into their own sorts of synthesis, the way so many things connected, just as his roots had reached down to touch the roots of the grass, thin and near the surface, and they'd formed a loop of sorts. His hand in the grass, the grass's roots at his roots, his roots to his body, his body to the grass. So tidy that it kind of made that sort of misunderstanding that he seemed to breed all the more disappointing. He shook it off. "Inside of it? I don't really see this as a permanent thing, do you? Not enough to say there's a future in it. No, when this is done... I suppose I'll go home. Perhaps, in doing all of this on behalf of the island, I'll have earned the place they've offered me." He smiled at the suggestion, his expression touched faintly by his current sadness of affairs. "I have a novel in the works, and more poetry; I will remain always with my words."

[11:22 PM] NethaEmerald: Upon being explained to that she has misinterpreted what he meant, she felt a little bad about it. She always seemed to have some problem in any encounter of their understanding some of his meanings. Big or small, it was bound to happen. However, she didn't let it get down to her for long. She's done her fair share of feeling bad about something, and she hoped to not go back to the way that was. Before he started to explain his own thing, she took down her Enhancement field. While it felt nice to her, it could be a little irritating to others. As he explained, she nodded. "I know our stay with The Pack isn't permanent. Might not be much of a future, but I think all of us are getting stronger the more we travel. I had meant more along the lines of where you feel you'd be towards the end of this journey. As for myself in the future, away from the pack? I... honestly don't know. I might not be able to go back to where i'd like to be, if all else fails. If not? I'll need to find a home somewhere else, and be a big anomaly amongst the Jera for being one that never returned home after their travels."

[11:57 PM] LadyDeme: "...What sort of strength do you mean?" Seed asked, taking the question itself very carefully. He supposed she likely meant martial; he didn't see anyone gaining much emotional strength. No, because you're a coward, came his own internal voice. There was that. He tilted his head, awaiting her answer somewhat... But also, referring to her larger point about herself. An uncertain future. He reached out for her hand, leaning over his knees. "Well, if no one else will extend the invitation, if you need a place to stay... Ah. It might be a bit of an imposition to say, so you must forgive me for being forward, but if you need a place to stay while you get your feet under you, I have a small home where you could collect yourself. Though... It's not necessarily an ill wind, being an anomoly, it does get lonely. So for your sake, I hope you can return home."
He smiled at her with the warmth of a fall afternoon in the woods, the sun baking into the leaves and falling around her in a warm syrup of gold. He truly meant it, all of it.

February 28, 2018

[12:07 AM] NethaEmerald: "I meant strength in our own capabilities. I know for myself, i've grown to learn many new powers that I never knew I had, both in my dark magic capabilities and my own enhancements. Was wondering if you had any revelations like that while being in this investigation group." She explained back to the first question of his with. However, as he talked about how his place would be available for her, she blushed a little. "Is he implying what I think he is?" She asked herself mentally. She was about 90% sure on this. In response to the blood rushing to her cheeks, she decided to sit back up and hope the blood would flow back down to the rest of her body. To her credit, it sort of worked, though not fully. Regardless of where the blood was within her body, she responded with "If the offer remains open after our time with the pack is done, i'd like that." A warm smile crossed her face, allowing his hand to grab hers.(edited)

[8:46 AM] LadyDeme: He smiled and took her hand, assuring himself in the contact that he hadn't stepped out of line in assuming their friendship. His grip was tentative, the bark skin on the inside of his hands fresh and thin and papery. The deal was arranged in a handshake, and she'd at the very least not be tossed out into the cold after this, even if it meant staying in a rather odd place for a while. The blush caught his attention for a moment, worriedly -- he'd intended the offer in innocent friendship. That it could be misconstrued that way hadn't occurred to him, since he'd come into worried she'd laugh in his face. "Are you feeling quite alright? Your face is red." In the meanwhile, he returned to their earlier topic -- that of strength. And for this... He hemmed and hawed for a moment, releasing his hand to massage his chin. "I suppose I've gotten better at using my staves, a little; certainly, I've seen some variety. However... I can't really say this is the sort of capability I'm really interested in gaining, outside of this. I only want to be useful to everyone -- and I'm still not really sure I am. But as long as I'm not a burden, I...I can be satisfied." That wasn't entirely true, but it was as much as he felt like asking for. He wanted to be more than not a burden -- but that was a desire he didn't know how to reach for, intruder that he was. He sighed wistfully and shook his head. "I wouldn't call my staffwork a passion to be chased, and while I think I've gotten... Quicker on my feet, a little, I'd rather live in a world where the most I have to deal with is fairly minor injuries. But I don't think it's bad for someone to want to grow stronger, and I'm glad to be able to help those around me. But I'm a poet and an odd-jobs healer, not a battlefield physician, at my heart. If pretty words were strength enough, I'd be happy."(edited)

[8:56 AM] NethaEmerald: Upon being asked about her blush, it worried her a little. It implied that his offer wasn't quite what she hoped it would be. Regardless of her own self-pity over her delusion, she kept the smile on her face and responded with "Just some of the blood and energy coming down from my antennae from sustaining my enhancement for so long." She knew she was totally lying there, but she sounded genuine because she didn't want to worry Seed. As he began to speak about not wanting to be a battlefield medic, she nodded. "I don't want to be on the battlefield after I'm done with this investigation either. Believe it or not, but I don't enjoy fighting. I'm only doing so to protect the others who accompany the pack. I'd rather work on helping people. However, I know that won't happen until we are done. But for now? I have to remain strong and keep my softer side away if it means protecting others."

[9:24 AM] LadyDeme: He looked at her with a certain admiration, leaning forward with interest in what she was saying. There were, he knew, downsides to locking away parts of your heart -- there was, or perhaps this was only his delusion, always a place for gentleness. But the ability to do what you must, the ability to remain steadfast and firm and unmoved by the pathetic whimperings of your heart... His insides lurched with longing at the thought. "I envy you, then. I have to admit, I don't understand how to do that." He laughed at himself, his chuckle perhaps a little more mocking than usual, with an inward sort of glance -- not at her -- that suggested who he was laughing at quite clearly. "Well, I hope I was of some use to you; I think, if that's something you can do, you'll do a fine job."

[12:04 PM] NethaEmerald: When he mentioned that he envied her, she giggled a little. "Someone envying me? Never had that happen before. But if you are interested in learning how, all you have to do is grow a little cold to your desires. I want to help people, like you do, but I lack that capability right now. However, I hope to soon crack the code on how to use healing magic better so I'm not blasting stuff as much to be useful." She slowly got up and started to gather her stuff up. "Now, I think I might need to head back to the group soon. I pilfered the needle and knife from the convoy. They apparently belong to Sally. Might want to get them back before she notices they are gone."

[12:17 PM] LadyDeme: There was something a little frustrating in that, and it nearly passed his lips -- they parted. But he swallowed it back down. When it came to it, his desires realized off of the page were something he saw rarely, and he only rarely treated with warmth. It didn't help him set aside his softness -- try as he might. Perhaps because he had nothing else. It was, as advice goes, only frustrating to him; it contained no direction for how to make the advice work. But Seed tried not to feel that; she was only being helpful, he would not trouble her by being too useless to take it. He'd keep trying; he'd work harder. "Ah, a good idea; it'd be better to return it very quickly, rather than having taken them off... It'll probably be fine," he added, for her sake. His smile was a mask as he collected up his roots and began to walk away. "I can probably offer a bit more help with this later. For now, farewell."(edited)

[1:07 PM] NethaEmerald: When Seed looked like he was going to say something, she was about to respond, but waited until he he got up. "I'll keep that in mind. If you ever need a partner or help with clarification, let me know." With all the stuff she had before in her hands and robe, she waved to Seed and hurried back to the convoy.

[1:07 PM] NethaEmerald: ==End RP==