hauntstart | UP AND OUT.

UP AND OUT.

[Beyond the stranger cemetery, you can see the city of Lockcentre. On two sides stretch mountains, with a plateau edge visible above the town, a great waterfall plunging into a river that wends its course through the city, then down terraced edges as the city carefully steps its way down to the sea.

Now what? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ you being alive. ]

Such as?

Hands on yours, granting you magic powers. Uh. Kind of like this?

[ does a motion like a sleight of hand, and pulls a whole lute out of thin air. ]

I mean, probably not like this specifically, but you know. Things you couldn't do before that you were granted now.

[ Looking down at his hand, palm open. They've healed now, but there are still marks there—not from the gifts, from his blood sacrifice. ]

Yes. Though I wasn't aware that's what was happening at the time. I've yet to put them to the test.

Okay. Let's all tell each other what we have from those, too.

[ brings out a dagger, this time ]

I haven't really tested them either, so these are just my impressions. I think I can pretty much make whatever like this, but they're not technically that useful. Like, I can make this dagger, but I don't think I could actually stab someone with it. It'll go away if I'm not around, too.

I can also draw attention to myself and force people to fight me with words instead of sharp things.

[ The sudden realization that he is being asked to explain what he's been blessed with has him wanting to shudder. No. He can't. There's nothing lovely in the first and nothing brutal in the second, but both seem to be beyond his words. ]

They suit you.

[ He says eventually, quietly. ]

[ flashes a grin ]

All flash, no substance?

Edited 2025-07-16 05:51 (UTC)

[ If Marius could be infected by grins, he would be. Alas, he is a cursed man. ]

Not anymore. [ STILL FLASH THOUGH. ] I can't protect you from sharp words.

And you don't have to. If I could be taken down with words, one of your tongue-lashings might have done the trick already.

[ there is the ghost of a smile on him. just, a teeny tiny uplift there. yeah he DID tear into him on the daily. as much as it made him want to rip his hair out, the moment it stopped, he was lost. ]

Arguments forged in fire, then.

[ also: not volunteering info on his own "gifts". ]

It will be my ultimate weapon.

[ smooths a hand over his locs, smile dimming a bit ]

The third... I get the feeling that one's for emergencies only.

[ a nod. firm. ]

Which we will be avoiding, with research, if you are still inclined.

[ dispels the dagger with a snap of his fingers, finger gun pointing at Marius in the same movement ]

Precisely. I'll give you all a summary of my findings in the morning.

[ he can only imagine what kind of implication that gesture was meant to convey. something terrible, no doubt. ]

I'll do the same.

[ is he safe. did he manage to subtly avoid a conversation for the first time in his life (as opposed to getting mad and just unsubtly leaving). ]

You're not gonna rest?

Are you?

[ puts a hand to his chest, mock-innocent ]

Me? When do I ever sleep at this hour?

This specific hour should probably be an exemption!

[ waves a hand dismissively ]

I'll just sleep later. We'll want the dark of night, anyway.

We'll also want your mind sharp.

[ he's going to lose this one isn't he, boys. ]

[ gives him a look ]

It is so weird getting praised by you so much. I should have never let you know about my secret heart of gold.

[ sits back on his bed and sighs ]

Look. Either I win this argument, and I spend the night reading, or you win this argument, I pretend to sleep until you do, and then I spend the night reading. There's no real point in going back and forth about it.

I have answers I want, and they're right at my fingertips. I doubt I'd get much sleep right now if I tried.

[ reaping the consequences of his blood oath: his person is stubborn as hell.

he sets the book aside and sits himself down on the edge of the bed furthest from anyone else. ]

So be it.

[ gives him a smile ]

I'll tell you what I find out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

UP AND OUT.

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL

Re: RESEARCH: HOSTEL