EVENT #1: FAE FESTIVITIES

[diceofthegods]

INTO THE WOODS

Click Clock Wood (Spring) by Grant Kirkhope

2:05 / 4:59

▶︎

Click here to listen.

Grant Kirkhope is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others.

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After making your way through the tiny farming town of Ich and out towards the rim of a massive raised crater, you will find yourself being led through a narrow split in the canyon wall. Inside, glow worms cling to the ceiling and create the illusion of a thousand twinkling stars above the moistened rocks.

When you finally emerge, it is into an impossibly lush landscape of massive, redwood-sized tangling trees and a soft moss carpet. Life abounds here. It feels like an oasis of birdsong and animal activity.

A short walk leads you to the prepared party-grounds. A large clearing with quaint huts all around decorated with strange flowers for partygoers to rest or otherwise entertain themselves.

There appear to be several games and stalls set up, the sweet and savory scents of delicious food fills the air, and so do the patrons of the forest. Seemingly hundreds of Fae folk zip around and greet the newcomers excitedly by placing garlands of vines and crowns of flowers atop their heads.

Glowing flowers and toadstools light your way here. It also seems that even the animals get in on the festivities! Really, just about everything talks here. Almost everything, anyways! Talking to a tree stump might not yield many results but you're welcome to try.

Each entrant is also provided upon arrival a copy of The Rules. A rolled parchment that resists water or any other damage. It also prevents you from writing on it so you can't just do what you want.

The rules read as follows:

DO:
⁂ Accept gifts from the Fae.
⁂ Sample the food provided at the party ONLY.
⁂ Play games with the Fae.
⁂ Feel at ease to rest in the provided huts.
⁂ Keep tabs on your shadow lest it wander.
DO NOT:
⁂ Make a TRADE with the Fae.
⁂ Provide any personal items as gifts or otherwise to the Fae.
⁂ Provide your true name to the Fae.
⁂ Wander away from the designated party area.
⁂ Ascend any staircases you find in the woods.
OTHER ITEMS TO NOTE:
⁂ If you see an old woman hiking through the area, feel free to stop her and lie to her. The more brazen and obvious the lie the better. She appreciates this!

GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT

Amongst the games and attractions are a variety of fun possibilities!

GAMES

⁂ Battleship! (Fae Style!) A number of Fae will be hiding on a large grid of flowers. You guess the locations and if you are correct then you will win a small prize! It is a cup of nectar that refills endlessly, and numbs any pains you may have. This works even outside of the forest and can be taken home.

Every time you miss though, you receive a small 'curse.' Nothing harmful! Maybe you’re just rotating in place for the next hour, your ears become daisies, or you grow a tree out of your head? (Feel free to come up with your own silly ideas!) All of the curses will dissipate after a time or upon leaving the forest and none will do any harm or cause pain. The Fae are all about fun tricks, not hurting anyone!

⁂ Dress Up Darlings! You enter a booth and allow the Fae to decide your outfit! Upon the agreement that you'll wear it the rest of the party, of course, no matter how silly or ridiculous it is.

⁂ Bobbing For Onions! Yes, you read that right. Bobbing for onions. There are onions floating around... in water. You have to catch them with your teeth. The prize for success is a Bag of Onions. This bag never runs out of onions. They are always fresh and always onions. Not always the same kind of onion, but always onions nonetheless. This bag works outside of the forest and can be taken home.

⁂ What's In The Box? There is a box. There is something in it. Maybe it's frogs. Maybe it's slugs. Possibly bugs? Maybe apples. We don’t know. Stick your hand in the box and take a guess at what you’re touching! If you’re right, you win the contents of the box!

We'll let players decide via coin flip, rolls, or however they want if their guess is correct! Any items won though will be common, every day items like mentioned and nothing especially exciting. Unless you're really into frogs. Then it's your lucky day, apparently!

ENTERTAINMENT

⁂ Slayd & The Possums! Slayd is here and he’s throwing down the banjo tunes with his possum pals. Feel free to join him if you are musically inclined! The Fae will provide any instrument your heart desires! They can't grant you the ability to play it though if you don't know how.

⁂ The Crowning of the King of Misrule! Randomly chosen by the Fae, enter a lottery to be chosen as the King of Misrule for the evening. You will be dressed in a stupid outfit and granted Fae wings for the night! You also have the insatiable urge to play harmless pranks on people. The Fae will also give you a "Special Gift" at the end of the party...

FOR THE FOOLISH

Ahh, but there are rule breakers amongst us aren't there? If you choose to sneak away from the party, chances are nobody will stop you; however, you are now on your own in the Talahee Forest.

FIRST LAYER

Rak'tika Greatwood Theme ( Civilizations ) by Masayoshi Soken

4:34 / 5:15

▶︎

Click here to listen.

"Civilizations" prominently features a female vocalist. The lyrics are in the Ronkan language, and has not been officially translated.

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The first layer of the forest is very much similar to what you have already seen. Everything is coated in a thick mat of moss and trees wind away like a massive birds nest to form the canopy above. The faint sounds of animals can still be heard. Up here, you may encounter Fae who did not attend the party. They'll ask you your name and other personal details.

Best that you lie.

SECOND LAYER

Click Clock Wood (Autumn) by Grant Kirkhope

1:12 / 4:11

▶︎

Click here to listen.

Grant Kirkhope is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others.

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The further in that you head, the darker the forest gets. It seems you are following a downward slope. The trees get bigger here, as do the insects and toadstools. Bioluminescence rules down here it seems. You may encounter stranger creatures here. Ones that will try to make very tempting trades for your personal belongings. Things that will seem like an amazing deal to you. They offer magical items of great power, or even personal effects from home.

Don't be fooled though. These objects are cursed, and are not at all what they seem. You have the distinct feeling of being watched at all times here.

⁂ Possible Encounters: Owlbear, Displacer Beast, Giant Badger

THIRD LAYER

Saint Mocianne's Arboretum (Hard) by Masayoshi Soken

2:50 / 5:10

▶︎

Click here to listen.

...hordes of aggressive plant life exposed to the strange substance stand between you and the information you seek.

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Are you getting smaller or is everything else getting bigger? Were Slayd here, he would have told you about the concept of Deep Forest Gigantism. The deeper you go - just like the ocean - the larger that the flora and fauna get.

You are dwarfed by the mushrooms here in the pitch darkness and only guided by the latent glow of the creatures and fungi that dwell here. Bugs the size of house-cats skitter in your wake. Are you sure you want to be here? Should you encounter anything larger, you’d best stay silent. Or run!

⁂ Possible Encounters: Giant predatory Elk (RUN), Rodents of Unusual Size, Extra Large Bugs

FOURTH LAYER

Poison Tree by Grouper

0:30 / 3:16

▶︎

Click here to listen.

'Poison Tree' is a meditation on the complexities of anger and the internal conflict it causes. It draws inspiration from William Blake's poem of the same name.

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The trees seem to clear out here as you reach the bottom of the forest. There is no light here so hope you brought a match. The landscape down here is a blanket of moss dotted with countless shallow pools. Looking into one of these pools, you will see your reflection... though it may look different in some way.

You will feel extremely compelled to reach down and touch the reflection in the water. Should you give in, you feel as though your world is turning upside down. You could receive memories not quite your own. Memories of a different version of you, even! (CRAU, Canon Update, or Canon AU!)

Yet, you will be experiencing them as your own. A long time could pass in your mind while only seconds have only elapsed in reality. Upon waking, you will find that you have been ejected from the party and the forest entirely. You find yourself at the entrance to the crater. Disoriented, and compelled not to re-enter, you have only yourself to blame as you must shamble your way home with this burdensome knowledge.

Notes

⁂ For the game prizes, we're using the honor system here! So long as you clear the roll then you can receive a prize with no mod permission needed.

- Battleship: If you roll a d20 above a 13, you can receive one of the nectar cups.
- Bobbing For Onions: If you roll a d20 above a 10, you can receive one of the bag of onions. En...joy...?

⁂ To sign up for The Crowning of the King of Misrule, comment here! We'll RNG the winner likely within a few days to a week to give folks time to participate if they want!

⁂ The plotting post for this event/November is up!

⁂ Additionally, we have a state of the game post available to people read about updates, clarifications, and a poll to participate in!

⁂ If you have any further questions or feedback about this event specifically, please comment here!

⁂ Full Navigation ⁂

Comments

[zodiheart]

The pride of the pixies being stoked puts a smile on his face, a bemused expression settling in. "Indeed, they have outdone themselves."

As for the legends of shadow theft...

"I am afraid that I do not have much experience with that particular legend. In books I have seen its mention, however, and I believe I can draw some conclusions of my own." He looks up and out, taking in the various kinds of fae present. "In places where fae spend great amounts of time, things that do not usually possess energies or consciousness of their own may begin to develop such things. This phenomenon would be exponentially greater within their own homeland - which is where we are presently located. One's shadow, for instance, could potentially develop its own will."

He waves a hand, dismissively.

"Or it could merely be a trick, a prank by one of the fae. An inconvenience for a time, potentially debilitating if not taken care of, but not inherently malicious in nature. Fae are not human, after all. Their understanding of things can be quite different from our own."

[amaratha]

You’ll be glad to know, [she says, supremely proud of herself,] that I have not yet beaten up your boss.

[Well, she hasn’t had the opportunity to even find the man. Though, if some other threads were to continue, she might have soon enough.]

But I’m glad he let you come to the party! Come, let’s keep trying stuff. Do you know what fae grapes are like?

[The thought occurs to her, now that she’s thinking back about grape survey kid’s grape survey. Surely the fae have good odds of having weird grapes?]

[zodiheart]

Well. Elidibus wonders how much of that story was legend and myth, and how much was the truth of what had actually occurred. The further back into history one goes, he knows, the more likely the truth has been distorted somehow. Perhaps innocently, as memory is fleeting for the likes of mortals.

Perhaps maliciously, to benefit those with an agenda.

"It sounds as if your Astrals are petty - using mortals to do their bidding and wage their wars for them rather than settle their squabbles themselves." But now, to sate his curiosity. "Do you know the originator of this Starscourge? What causes such an illness?"

All cervidae are just fucking deer to him

[sugar_freed]

Oh shit. He's been spotted.

Not 'oh shit' as in feeling guilt or any pressure to actually do anything, mind. 'Oh shit' as in surprise it even happened.

"Eyes on the prize, bro," he says, waving Ardyn on 'supportively' from his place safely above the furious animal. Which is hot on that dude's heels. Damn. Even fuckoff huge deer are fucking fast. He never knew.

But now that he's been spotted, spectating is less appealing.

So, fine. He'll give this a shot. What's the worst he can do? Die?

He wishes.

Even back on Earth C, 'death by furious ungulate' wouldn't have kept him dead. So as the deer rounds the massive trunk of the sprawling tree, tossing its head up and down like it's ready to catch Ardyn's ass with those antlers if it could just get a little closer--

Dirk drops out of the tree. Straight down onto the back of the deer's neck, leading with one foot like a wingless eagle with martial artist ambitions--or maybe a particularly precise anvil from a Looney Tunes bit. The point is: either this deer is about to die, or he is.

That, or this is about to get phenomenally stupider very, very quickly.

[errant_knight]

Ravus is a man famialir with the shape of scars, the way blades cut, and burns pock the surface, and stitches stretch the skin. Ardyn's scars are visibly different from that. Which makes it all the more curious in Ravus' mind, and his gaze drifts back to Ardyn's nearly bare top after he takes a moment to compose himself. He knows he shouldn't be considering this, both wanting to ask and admiring all at once.

At least he can pretend the conversation about fashion is more riveting.

"I'm concerned they will wrap you in more of..." He gestures to all of Ardyn, and even plucks a bit of the pink fabric for emphasis, "this. While I am not much a fan of dreary colors, I think perhaps the black suited you better."

But winter does approach, and after living in Niflheim for quite a while, Ravus doesn't dismiss how harsh it might be.

"So long as it's warm, I suppose function over form is the better outcome. I would not wish you to face the biting cold so exposed. If no fae tailor takes your offer, my coat may fit you. It would at least shelter you from the elements, and the leather retains heat." Even with his distaste for Ardyn's fashion sense, there's no lack of resolve or care in the silver's voice.

[miniroth]

[That earns her a long, measuring look. There's no way around it, he's obviously sizing her up and whether or not she'd be capable of any such feat as beating up an older version of himself.]

Do you think you could? I appreciate your restraint.

[He's pretty sure it'd be a bad idea to put that to the test, actually, so he's going to try to not encourage it just in case. Sure, rumor has it Charlie could just resurrect someone if something went badly but.. that doesn't strike him as ideal.]

He.. encouraged me to come, if it helps.

[Socializing: he lacks it. Painfully. Mention of fae grapes draws a puzzled look, gaze shifting across the offerings. It does make sense, grapes are part of a harvest.]

... I must admit I'm not overly fond of most fruit, including grapes, it was merely the novelty of them being square which caught my attention. But I'm willing to try them anyway, if there are any.

[snapp_crackle]

"Eli's definitely the kind of person who's impressed by boldness, I bug him about magic theory all the time and he never gets tired of it."

Impressing Eldibius for real might be downright impossible, which is not going to stop Popp from trying. He's participated in impossible things before, and not trying wouldn't impress anyone at all, least of all himself.

"So you do know Gaia - and you'll talk to her for me? That'd be great! Even if she makes fun of me for asking, it's not as bad if it goes through someone else first."

It figures that the gloomy kids are already buddies. They're both kind of mean by Popp's reckoning but they're mean in slightly different ways that might cancel out?

[miniroth]

And here Sephiroth thinks he's being a champion of tolerance and sociability - for him. Others might be more friendly, but he's going above and beyond his comfort levels by simply being here!

"She's not really the sort to mock people without provocation." Which left the question, what did Popp do to earn her ire?

But apparently, he intends to do so right now, as out comes the sending stone they're all given, and he begins writing. "I've only seen her criticize people for unbearably silly ideas. I'm ... sure you've given her no reason to do so."

[fatedfinality]

Care isn't something that Ardyn is used to. A lot of times these days, it just feels like pity. While he initially wants to think that about Ravus' offer too, one look in his eyes tells Ardyn that the man is sincere about it. How... aggravating.

"I appreciate the offer," he starts, "and I could put you out like that so I won't pretend that's why I'll politely decline. No, I just..." Ardyn doesn't trust himself, mostly, to be given something of Ravus' and not ruin it somehow. To not lose himself a little over being wrapped up in the other man's coat, enveloped by his scent, and all the awful ways his mind strays just from the possibility alone.

Of course you would, says Somnus. Yes. That's all he's good for anymore, to ruin.

Maybe he's hoping you do, offers Aera but- No. No, he can't conceive Ravus being anywhere near the depraved beast that he is. Although that makes the temptation to corrupt even harder to fight, he... He is trying.

He knows no one believes it, least of all him, but it is happening. That third voice he can't make out as clear as Aera or Somnus - the one that feels like a conscience he thought he lost long ago - is making sure of that.

And while he does still want - need, even - to keep his hold on the High Commander, it has to be right.

"I just need to give The Fae different direction for winter fashion, hopefully. I think my dragon friend is helping me out a little though already since the cold already isn't bothering me too much." It makes sense that silver would be ice-aspected, perhaps, since the sheen does call to mind Shiva's gorgeous, glistening form.

"But I wouldn't say no still to you wanting to warm me up rather than your coat," he can't stop himself from teasingly flirting. Hopefully, Ravus' usual frustrated, flustered response will be what Ardyn needs to remind himself he's disgustingly pathetic. "Just let me know." Wink.

[snapp_crackle]

What, right this second?! Popp always forgets about the sending stones. He's not from a time and place that does fast paced immediate contact.

"...Standing on your head's a traditional meditation technique where I'm from, and it's great at expanding how much magic you can store up at once. It's not that silly once you get used to it."

Popp has several dozen variants on the ways he complains about things, and this one is one of the more good natured ones. He's still inherently defensive over the way his precious teachers have taught him to do things, but this is a mostly performative display of grouchiness.

[miniroth]

Sephiroth looks up from his writing, studying Popp for a moment, then adds a little more. "Did she insult you for standing on your head?"

He's not overly used to these things yet, he wasn't allowed a cellphone and would have no one to message in Midgar anyway if he did. But here? ..Well there were two people at least. "She remembers you. .. Because of that."

Another message follows. "She's willing to be a sparring partner, and a second set of eyes while you set fire to the countryside, but wishes to know if you're alright with the fact that she's never sparred before and may accidentally kill you. Presumably Charlie can help if that happens."

.. That can't possibly be what she's actually said.

[errant_knight]

Oh, if the world would just stop tilting at an uncomfortable 23-degree angle, Ravus is so sure he could handle this just fine. Perfectly fine. Nothing wrong- why does Ignis look more distressed than ever? Why are his eyes so vividly green? Were they always that beautiful and bright? Wait-

Whatever perfectly good rationale he might have had feels too far away to reach for, and that worried whisper has his heart cleaved in two. How has this gotten worse? Ravus blinks. Once. Twice, and then ever so gently reaches his hands to him, gingerly setting his real one against Ignis' cheek. The metallic claws brush the back of his palm against his lips, gently sweeping along with the growth of the scales in a soft, soothing gesture.

"It's alright," he coos low and sure, despite the slight drawl that comes with inhaling the noxious fumes. "I'm fine. I feel fine; dizzy- but fine." It'd be more convincing if his pupils weren't dilated and his words were a touch less slurred, but he's still upright. Upright, and petting Ignis' hand and shushing him as he might have done for Lunafreya when she was small and anxious.

[giftoffamily]

The charr doesn't comment on that right away, but he doesn't really have to. A grim, resigned sort of concern is all over his face as he decides, with no small amount of hesitation, to try listening in again. It's not hard to find that current in the back of his mind. Power, instinct, emotion, a live wire of information...but if he reaches deep enough, he can hear that babble within it, like the unintelligible mutterings of someone deep in thought. Gethen gets the feeling he could try stretching further, but now isn't the time.

"If it's a trick, it's a cruel one. But this feels..." Familiar. Is now the time to bring it up? "It might be draconic."

[snapp_crackle]

Auuugh. At least he's memorable. He grumbles a confirmation...

Auuuugh in a different mental tone. He shoots right up to his feet with a yelp.

"Wha- well, of course I don't want her to kill me!"

He died like two months ago, he doesn't want to become a regular... At least it sounds like they've got spells for that?! A couple of paces back and forth. It'd sure be some serious incentive to do his best, having a terrifying goth girl come at him with a hammer and dark spells.

"I've managed to avoid getting offed by plenty of people who were having a serious try at it, though... So I'm fine with it if she promises to give not killing me a fair shake! You can tell her that!"

[miniroth]

There's an entire dialogue going, as he carefully writes messages and receives them; Gaia's somewhere in this festival right now, and may be enjoying the distraction that it's providing.

"If it helps she doesn't want to kill you." That probably doesn't help at all, but he sounds confident it absolutely should. "She intends to try to not do any permanent harm, but when the only fighting she's known is fighting for her life .. ah, muscle memory? May take over."

So in a way it'd be training for both of them. "It might be a good time to practice any defensive techniques as well. Just having a strong offense isn't always enough." Especially with a giant hammer swinging for someone's head.

cw: gore, unnecessary(?) violence

[fatedfinality]

That's something they'll have to bond over. While Ardyn would usually be of the belief he can't die, well- He's been proven quite wrong here! That will be a fun thing for Dirk to learn too, he's sure. He imagines they're similar at least since the reckless way that he drops down already indicates to Ardyn he's usually 1) quite powerful and 2) not much is likely as powerful as him, if anything is. Certainly not this elk on a normal day, in a normal setting...

Nothing about here is 'normal' though as either of them know it.

The attack strikes true, at least, and the deer cries out in time with a snap of one (or more) of its vertebrae. It isn't enough to unfortunately kill it outright but that's where Ardyn takes his opportunity attack. He pulls a dagger from somewhere - don't worry about where he was hiding it - and snarls as he digs it right between the creatures large eyes. He has enough strength to slice through skin, muscle, and shatter bone to reach the brain of it beneath. It's a bit comical that his entire arm is lodged into the creature's skull with the size of it but it does the job well enough.

He pulls it out with a squelch, arm covered in bits of elk and coated in blood, and wipes his dagger off at least on the waistline of his ridiculous pants. "Thanks for the assist," he says, casually, like they didn't just fucking annihilate this thing. He hopes that won't have any consequence for relations with the Fae. Too late to worry overly much about it now though, he supposes. What's done is done.

[snapp_crackle]

It helps maybe like half a percent. Objectively someone not trying to kill you is ideal but it is such a low bar to step over!

"Beyond just dodging? I can... work on that, sure." That is what sparring is for, working on things. In theory, as a mage, his primary defense should be cowering behind someone with a boatload of armor and a big sword. In practice, it usually is setting whatever's coming at him on fire before it can get him. If he can, and then his primary defense is having a normal amount of flesh and bone in between attacks and all of his vital organs. There are probably alternatives!

Is this a good idea? Maybe not, but it is an idea and they're doing it, that's what forward progress is about!

"It'd be pretty mean of me to go on a full power offensive before I know how tough she is, anyway. I don't want to kill anyone either."

[fatedfinality]

So they will. Ardyn thought himself once to also be that individual. He took his people's pain, literally and metaphorically, into himself so that they would be spared the agonies of crueler lives. He could handle it, so he did. It was his gods-given duty to. But as he learned: the gods had their own agenda and he was but a pawn in their schemes.

So now? Now, he'll be the monster they want him to be and then some.

"Something that covers me like usually, but perhaps a bit more colorful than my usual affair. Black goes with everything, of course, but it is rather dreary. Why not make a fun statement if I'm able to? The Fae have the right idea, I think, just need some... refinement, perhaps, in their execution."

[zodiheart]

That Popp is so transparent on what he is more and less interested in is an endearing thing. Elidibus would much prefer a pupil who knows what they like and expresses themselves along those lines - it would save them both the trouble of attempting to lecture on unnecessary topics. Creation was one such thing.

Unable to be taught as it was, unless someone was truly passionate about learning the ins and outs... well.

Best that he move on to other things with Popp.

"Do you know how to drain power from a source? Be it, ah, what was a term I have heard used..." he trails off, frowning. "Ah, yes, mana! Mana, aether, magic reserves... there are spells one may use to sap the strength from an enemy. The key is to learn how to absorb such strength for yourself."

[silver_soldier]

Ah. Sephiroth has miscalculated. This is normal for him in social situations, but he still feels the familiar sinking feeling in his stomach, that feeling of being out of his depth and ill-equipped that he rarely experiences anywhere else. He hates it.

All the more so when it means making a mistake with someone whose opinion and feelings matter deeply to him.

He pauses, trying to work out what might have upset Mithrun. In Mithrun's place, why would this upset him? He hazards a guess. "Did you...want to win it for Angeal yourself?"

[snapp_crackle]

Sheesh, now he feels a little bad about all the times he's gotten on Maam's case for her attitude - nah, he shouldn't, though, right? She has lots of other skills she can be proud of, like the healing and also the monstrous physical power. Rosie's normal, though.

"Sheesh, that'd be like me losing my magic power, that sucks! That dragon owes you big time! Maybe you'll look better when more of it comes in? Or you can lean into it, start biting people who turn their noses up at your face, chomp chomp..."

He makes an exaggerated monstrous grimace. He doesn't actually have any fangs growing in, it's just a goofy face. The forest is getting darker, and feels larger. That mushroom off to the side comes up past his knee... it didn't just giggle, did it?

[orbicularis]

Mithrun hesitates, then nods - almost guiltily, like a child admitting to some small wrongdoing. It's stupid, he knows; Angeal will be receiving an onion bag, which is the important part, so why does it matter who it's coming from? Sephiroth just happens to have succeeded where Mithrun failed.

Which is fine.

"It doesn't matter. It's good that you got one - so he'll have it. That was the point."

[silver_soldier]

Sephiroth doesn't think twice about it. In fact, he barely thinks once. He simply holds out the bag to Mithrun.

"Would you like to give it to him? If it doesn't matter who he gets it from, then he doesn't have to get it from me."

[snapp_crackle]

Exactly, right to the good stuff! Popp will put up with a certain amount of theory and thinking about things, but he likes the momentum of going into action. The book goes into his pockets, Elidibus has his full attention.

"Yeah, I know what magic power is, and how to build up how much of it I have to work with... but it just comes back over time if I rest, that's the way just about everyone has to do it. I've heard about potions that can restore it faster, but those are hard to come by."

He'll get into alchemy if he absolutely has to, but it'd be a way better use of his time to get a spell that covers the one thing he'd want to get into alchemy for. Also, alchemy is kind of gross and esoteric, and he's not sure about Elidibus' prowess in this one area. There is a public record.

"But don't teach me any alchemy, I want to keep my bathtub."

[errant_knight]

Ravus thinks there's something there behind the ever-so slight hesitance, brief as it is. Maybe it's the way those striking golden eyes seem to evaluate his offer with such a critical lens. The way it makes Ravus wonder just what turns the disjointed cogs in Ardyn's head. He can't say for certain, given people have never been his strongest suit, but the spark of curiosity is there. Along with the low, distant rumble of thunder in his mind that reminds him of the other occupant now residing in his soul.

"The offer remains for however long it needs be," Ravus says, firm, but not demanding of acknowledgment. "Though I imagine the cold has become a familiar blight for the both of us, regardless of... other interferences." They've both been in Niflheim long enough to adapt to the bone-chilling environment, he suspects.

Though he does immediately regret extending the courtesy, because Ardyn just has to make it weird, doesn't he? Ravus immediately fumbles when he's winked at and presented with the clearly lewd offer. Even he can't miss that innuendo.

And yet... Ravus may feel the heat creep up to his face again, but there's curiosity buzzing in his thoughts. There's no proper frame of reference for something as vivid as a fantasy, but for once, there's a nebulous sort of want that floats along his thoughts, as gossamer as mist, and just as intangible. He can't quite meet golden eyes any longer, and pretends the trees just over Ardyn's shoulder are a better focus.

"I- I don't quite think myself qualified for such, err- alternative forms of keeping warm."