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[It was a wonder getting back to the quiet of the hub after the months spent among the very noisy palai. The uvi threat defeated, and further mystery solved, it was no wonder that the coven saw the need to go back. Though she did feel that itch of adventure, Madhuri turned away from it. She would hero no more... it was for sanity's sake.
She did have other 'duties', however. How in the seven hells was everyone doing now that they've gone back? Thus, moving from tree to tree to get a better vantage point was best.
Oh, there's one. She knew this gentleman. She quietly climbed down with a smile, but decided she'd loop the end of her tail around one of the last branches and swing down. She waved, despite her upside-down position from the treelimb.]
Hey, good-lookin'! Whatcha cookin'? Oomph-
[She snatched for it, but no dice- the hat fluttered to the floor, just slipping from her fingertips. Well, so much for smooth.]
She did have other 'duties', however. How in the seven hells was everyone doing now that they've gone back? Thus, moving from tree to tree to get a better vantage point was best.
Oh, there's one. She knew this gentleman. She quietly climbed down with a smile, but decided she'd loop the end of her tail around one of the last branches and swing down. She waved, despite her upside-down position from the treelimb.]
Hey, good-lookin'! Whatcha cookin'? Oomph-
[She snatched for it, but no dice- the hat fluttered to the floor, just slipping from her fingertips. Well, so much for smooth.]
[ Julius is someone naturally inclined to stay away from others, and it's no different once they returned to the Hub. Having discussed about a garden with Haru, he had sought out to water what she had started then take a break... which is when Madhuri finds him.
Surprise flickers on his normally stoic visage, but he recovers fast enough to make a lunge for her hat and catch it. ]
Beg your pardon...?
[ She's also upside down. Is it safe? ]
Surprise flickers on his normally stoic visage, but he recovers fast enough to make a lunge for her hat and catch it. ]
Beg your pardon...?
[ She's also upside down. Is it safe? ]
Thank you- oh... yes, well.
[A matter-of-factly raise of a finger, despite being upside down at the moment.]
It's a turn of phrase. I'm asking what you've been up to, but I suppose I don't have to explain the first part at least, now do I...?
[A matter-of-factly raise of a finger, despite being upside down at the moment.]
It's a turn of phrase. I'm asking what you've been up to, but I suppose I don't have to explain the first part at least, now do I...?
[ It gets a pause as Julius briefly considers the impact of his appearance, but he decides that it's probably just flattery and/or she's exaggerating. ]
I'd thought to just take a look around. This is my first time here.
[ holds out the hat to her, if she's able to take it ]
I'd thought to just take a look around. This is my first time here.
[ holds out the hat to her, if she's able to take it ]
[...Boi.]
I see. Well, welcome to our little base of operations! Mind the seafood- gives you the, er, intestinal duress. The boars are fine, however.
[She reached for her hat and pulled herself up to sit neatly atop the branch instead. She gave a nod of thanks.]
But that little trip leads me to wonder where next Qri desires magic. Hopefully she won't use the bones of the civilians next time.
I see. Well, welcome to our little base of operations! Mind the seafood- gives you the, er, intestinal duress. The boars are fine, however.
[She reached for her hat and pulled herself up to sit neatly atop the branch instead. She gave a nod of thanks.]
But that little trip leads me to wonder where next Qri desires magic. Hopefully she won't use the bones of the civilians next time.
[ Julius technically doesn't need to eat but that's... not a topic for discussion right now ]
I worry more about the worlds we've been to. If the magic drain will affect them.
[ His mind has been on it for a while, as signified by a slight frown on his countenance. ]
I worry more about the worlds we've been to. If the magic drain will affect them.
[ His mind has been on it for a while, as signified by a slight frown on his countenance. ]
Got me there. The palai didn't seem entirely bothered with the whole, er... well. Bones, or whatever those were being used against whatever the uvi were cooking up out there.
It was why I sought crystals, or some sort of equivalent.
It was why I sought crystals, or some sort of equivalent.
[ That's not quite a term he's heard of. Assuming that those 'crystals' are magical things as opposed to the mineral deposits in his world: ]
What exactly do these crystals do?
What exactly do these crystals do?
What couldn't they do? Eorzea lives and breathes crystals, and they house immense, almost bottomless amounts of magic. I can attune to them easily enough, or even channel my own aether into them to use them for travel.
If Qri needed energy so badly, it's only a matter of having an Elto charge a large number of crystals with as much as they're comfortable giving. Then she can draw from them whenever she needs it.
Of course, that's assuming Qri's levels of magic needed to keep her corporeal form. She may need more than a primal, and primals need to practically sit in a lake of them at all times to do their bidding.
If Qri needed energy so badly, it's only a matter of having an Elto charge a large number of crystals with as much as they're comfortable giving. Then she can draw from them whenever she needs it.
Of course, that's assuming Qri's levels of magic needed to keep her corporeal form. She may need more than a primal, and primals need to practically sit in a lake of them at all times to do their bidding.
[ As usual, most of that flies over his head. What he catches most is the concept of a battery: ]
Is it possible to fabricate a crystal?
Is it possible to fabricate a crystal?
I... hmm. The only instances I've seen that create crystals are massive amounts of magic erupting from the lifestream of the planet.
I suppose if Qri were to sneeze, she may make crystals. I happen to possess a little bit of pepper~
I suppose if Qri were to sneeze, she may make crystals. I happen to possess a little bit of pepper~
[ It's magic. It's always magic, isn't' it? ]
Is there a way to access the lifestream without using magic?
Is there a way to access the lifestream without using magic?
Well... die.
We all return to the lifestream when we die.
[She leaned until she slouched in her seated position, elbows over knees.]
I'd like to at least marry a lovely gentleman and carry a few of his children before I worry about dying, myself. So that's out. And no, that doesn't mean you get to go off and do something rash, yourself.
I'll pinch your ears something fierce. Don't think I won't, dear Julius!
We all return to the lifestream when we die.
[She leaned until she slouched in her seated position, elbows over knees.]
I'd like to at least marry a lovely gentleman and carry a few of his children before I worry about dying, myself. So that's out. And no, that doesn't mean you get to go off and do something rash, yourself.
I'll pinch your ears something fierce. Don't think I won't, dear Julius!
[ Dear Julius... how long has it been since he was called that? ]
I won't. I can't die.
[ At least, it brings a slight smile to his normally serious countenance, touched up with amusement. ]
I might not have a full understanding of what the Crystals are, but - I have a suggestion.
[ He holds out both hands in front of him, palms exposed, and closes his eyes. A vessel to contain magic, a battery... that was the thought that he had to give life.
Small, white strands sprout from his hands, much like seedlings growing from a weathered trunk. They weave together to form a octahedral shape, growing to the size of an apple before stopping and abruptly turning clear. The residual threads fade and dissolve into dust, leaving the crystal (?) hovering in the air above his hands. ]
Something like this? I don't know if it'll work...
I won't. I can't die.
[ At least, it brings a slight smile to his normally serious countenance, touched up with amusement. ]
I might not have a full understanding of what the Crystals are, but - I have a suggestion.
[ He holds out both hands in front of him, palms exposed, and closes his eyes. A vessel to contain magic, a battery... that was the thought that he had to give life.
Small, white strands sprout from his hands, much like seedlings growing from a weathered trunk. They weave together to form a octahedral shape, growing to the size of an apple before stopping and abruptly turning clear. The residual threads fade and dissolve into dust, leaving the crystal (?) hovering in the air above his hands. ]
Something like this? I don't know if it'll work...
[For a few days now, he's found himself puzzling over something as he works on renovating the abandoned house west of base camp and scouting the area. And the more he thinks on the matter, the less sure he becomes.
There are very few with whom he's spoken of personal matters, and in this case, fewer who might understand why he's grappling with something perhaps terribly mundane. But he thinks Julius will.
The man at once understands what the human mindset is, and that of a weapon, and so...]
Hey, Julius? Could I maybe...ask you what someone means when they want to know how important they are to you?
I'm not really sure if it's a quantitatve or qualitative sort of question.
There are very few with whom he's spoken of personal matters, and in this case, fewer who might understand why he's grappling with something perhaps terribly mundane. But he thinks Julius will.
The man at once understands what the human mindset is, and that of a weapon, and so...]
Hey, Julius? Could I maybe...ask you what someone means when they want to know how important they are to you?
I'm not really sure if it's a quantitatve or qualitative sort of question.
[ Julius is unsurprisingly in the garden, trying to use his powers on the plants that have taken root there. Thus his reply comes a little later, still fringed with static at the edges - though it is very slight, indicative of a state of healthy control (or as healthy as it can be).
The question, though... ]
I find that context is important. May I ask who said it to you?
The question, though... ]
I find that context is important. May I ask who said it to you?
I'm not sure I should say, but...a friend? Does that help at all?
[He doesn't doubt that Julius would keep the matter to himself, but even so, 9S was never the most forthright. Not when it concerned him. Not when something was potentially loaded like this seems to be. Maybe he's just overthinking it, but he's really not sure.
And that's what it all comes down to, really]
[He doesn't doubt that Julius would keep the matter to himself, but even so, 9S was never the most forthright. Not when it concerned him. Not when something was potentially loaded like this seems to be. Maybe he's just overthinking it, but he's really not sure.
And that's what it all comes down to, really]
[She presumes he means that in conviction, rather than an outright admission. Regardless, she seemed to believe that he won't be as rash as she'd thought. But when he seemed to focus, confusion colored her face.
The xaela opted for climbing down from the tree, springing from the branch and landing on her boots as something began to form within Julius' hands. It was white at first, then cleared.]
I'd wondered what Qri had given you. It... it certainly looks like a crystal.
[But she sighed.]
I could test it by trying to attune some of my aether to it, but my natural ability doesn't work on the island.
[A pause. Then a soft breath.]
Ah, but I know someone who could...!
The xaela opted for climbing down from the tree, springing from the branch and landing on her boots as something began to form within Julius' hands. It was white at first, then cleared.]
I'd wondered what Qri had given you. It... it certainly looks like a crystal.
[But she sighed.]
I could test it by trying to attune some of my aether to it, but my natural ability doesn't work on the island.
[A pause. Then a soft breath.]
Ah, but I know someone who could...!
[ It doesn't, but then again that is impacted by his own lack of experience in this matter. There may be more layers of complexity, but he had not had to deal with them - thus, it is in the simplest way that he will answer: ]
I suppose they wanted to know how much you cared for them. Friends are important to each other, after all.
I think it is supposed to be qualitative. Such things such as 'caring' is hard to count in numbers.
I suppose they wanted to know how much you cared for them. Friends are important to each other, after all.
I think it is supposed to be qualitative. Such things such as 'caring' is hard to count in numbers.
[ That's... not actually his magic, but the moment to correct that had passed; and he considers the prospect of leaving the mistake be. It would conceal his true nature, too. ]
You do?
[ He had noticed the lack of his Qri-given magic, but the Singularity's power still persisted. ]
You do?
[ He had noticed the lack of his Qri-given magic, but the Singularity's power still persisted. ]
[At least he has feedback from someone he considers a more knowledgeable source, though he isn't sure still yet what the right answer to such a question is.
Julius' answer does seem to fit though. Jude had said he wondered if he was important to 9S as he had become to him, so that must be it]
Do humans often state those things to each other? YoRHa don't really... To me it makes sense to protect people when they matter, rather than...
I'm not sure what friends say for this.
Julius' answer does seem to fit though. Jude had said he wondered if he was important to 9S as he had become to him, so that must be it]
Do humans often state those things to each other? YoRHa don't really... To me it makes sense to protect people when they matter, rather than...
I'm not sure what friends say for this.
Yes. Qri had given boundless energy to a gentleman by the name of Red. You can't miss him... er, one second.
[A moment of focus, and to mind comes the pupper himself.]
He's a dog. A very hungry one... I promised him a meal. You too, now that I think about it, for helping me with the Uvi problem.
[A moment of focus, and to mind comes the pupper himself.]
He's a dog. A very hungry one... I promised him a meal. You too, now that I think about it, for helping me with the Uvi problem.
[ You see this here, this is one long silence from someone who doesn't understand how magic is supposed to work in this instance. ]
I see...?
I see...?
[ He can follow 9S' argument, for it is practical - it was one he had struggled with some time back. But it can be explained. ]
Not very often. Some humans care not for others, while some other humans care for those around them very much. Humans are fickle in that way.
It seems more as an affirmative of your friendship, than actually questioning your desire to protect others. It would make anyone happier to be appreciated with these sorts of gestures.
[ Possibly? Probably? ]
Not very often. Some humans care not for others, while some other humans care for those around them very much. Humans are fickle in that way.
It seems more as an affirmative of your friendship, than actually questioning your desire to protect others. It would make anyone happier to be appreciated with these sorts of gestures.
[ Possibly? Probably? ]
Whenever I attune to a crystal in Eorzea, I reach out and channel some of my magic into it.
Red could, theoretically, be taught to channel a great deal of his energy into a crystal and offer it as a source of energy for Qri. While the side-effect is draining of one's vitality normally, a practical wellspring as he may actually be relieved of such excess.
But creation, too, is taxing. Thus the need to harvest a source of natural crystals rather than conjured. I'm... surprised you're still standing.
Red could, theoretically, be taught to channel a great deal of his energy into a crystal and offer it as a source of energy for Qri. While the side-effect is draining of one's vitality normally, a practical wellspring as he may actually be relieved of such excess.
But creation, too, is taxing. Thus the need to harvest a source of natural crystals rather than conjured. I'm... surprised you're still standing.
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