eswareinmal | [Orb]

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[Orb]

[The orb shows the beach - grass leading to rocks leading to sand leading to the vast expanse of ocean in the distance. It's a picteresque sort of sight, with the bonus of no dragons around to eat people. Turns out you just can't entirely trust the maps here..]

I've, um, I've found the ocean. It's not as bad as it looks, out here...I mean, um, the thorns are moving rather fast, but it turns out that we're hardly cut off.

Well...hardly cut off yet.

I did stop by the infection zone before I came out this way. The reports are certainly true. For plants, they are moving alarmingly fast. I didn't want to stay in the area. If I'd actually dared make camp there, I probably wouldn't be here now. Still. I, um, I made an effort. A couple of basic identification spells, and a bit of scrying, although s-something about them made that even harder than it normally is, for me.

If anyone has any ideas how I might, um, proceed further, or even get a bit off for further examination, I'm certainly all ears. It's not as though I'll have to walk that far to reach the border zone on my way back.

[...really, though, looking out at the beach, at the ocean and thinking of what lies beyond it, it's actually a little hard to remember that they're all in such terrible danger. The land around him brings up a feeling of nostalgia in Giles' chest that he can't ignore.]

...if worst comes to worst, I suppose we could always build a ship.

[Because, when he finds himself forgetting, now he can summon up the mental image of that great, gnarled tangle of malevolent, thorny evil. That's a familiar feeling as well - consult the books. Fight the evil. Save the world.

What happens next? Well...they'll burn that bridge when they come to it.]

((ooc: Hey, sorry for the edits, guys! Turns out I was a bit mistaken as to the positioning of the thorns. But! Things should be able to proceed from here.))

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[...this, Giles does notice. He notices the nerves, the shifting, the mumbling. The way Helios is so obviously thinking about something else.

What are you hiding, bro?

But Giles doesn't ask there and then - better to ask when they're both face-to-face, and Helios can't just hang up the orb. So he nods, and he settles down to wait. He's not waiting long, of course, he never is, but it's long enough for him to dig in his pack for a few bits of food.

The flash of light briefly blinds him, but he knows what it means. When Helios appears, Giles reaches out to steady him and make sure he doesn't collapse before he can reach the tree. When he's sure that Helios can at least manage to stay upright, he goes to dig a bandage out of the bag.]

Th-Thank you for coming. You can sit, if you want - we don't need to dash back immediately.

[Or do they?]

[ Helios will give Giles an appreciative smile and nod as he flexes his injured hand a little. He'll turn around fully when he's better adjusted. The distance always got to him. But the food and a short rest will make things a bit easier for the return. ] O-Of course. J-Just a little, short, rest. W-We should...should head b-back soon.

[ A pause. ] B-Before nightfall. [ Because that's when Ginia has been sneaking off and stealing things and he can't really seem to get her to see reason. Helios bites his lip and then shakes his head. No. He really should bring it up, here and now, before it gets any worse. ] Th-the magic peddler c-came into town the other day...

[ And here Helios will sigh and slump against the tree. Never a dull moment here, was it? ] You just...missed him too.

[...Giles' expression is one of undisguised horror.]

And, a-and I'm certainly glad I did. Especially after seeing his handiwork on the town's other Sage. [Blindness? Again? Giles isn't sure he wouldn't actually rather die.

A horrible thought occurs to him.]

You, y-you didn't actually take anything from him, did you?

[ And here Helios' expression is one of deep and utter embarrassment. He's not talking about his item right now though. His was just a book that was blank. Nothing special, really. ] I-I think Ginia might have...

[ he looks down at the ground, flexing his bandaged hand a little. ] I-I tried to s-stop her, Giles. I-I really did. But sh-she won't...she won't listen to me. And she keeps coming back later at night with all these new items. I-I think she's stealing them. [ He sounds a bit panicked, worried and above all else concerned. He'll bit his lip and shake his head. ] I-I think it might be her necklace. I-I'm sorry. I-I was trying to h-handle it on my own b-but I...I don't know what else to do.

[ He neglects to mention that he tied Ginia up and locked her in the bedroom. ]

Edited 2012-08-30 04:00 (UTC)

[...now Giles' expression is one of some terror and alarm.]

Ginia s-saw the peddler? And she, sh-she...

...good god. W-Why on Earth didn't you call me? [And here he'd been thinking things were okay!

Well, a deep, dark part of himself adds snidely, that's his own fault. Look at what happened the last time he left Helios and Ginia alone together.

Has there ever been a point when he left them alone that didn't end in disaster? And that's not a good thought to think, not at all, but Giles is just a tiny bit in shock at the sudden turn of events...or, the not-so-sudden turn of events, as the case may be.]

I-I didn't realize... [ Helios flinches a little at the admission. He was absentminded, yes, but this was honestly inexcusable. He's just been so busy maintaining the house and working and...making his potions. ] S-Sorry. I-I should have called you. B-But I didn't...

[ want you to worry while you were out and about. Helios knows the two of them don't have the best track record, when left to their own devices. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything after all. ] It-it should be easy enough to f-fix. We just...need to get that necklace off of h-her.

Easy. Yes. Of course. [Giles laughs humorlessly, running a hand distractedly through his hair.

They both might want to think it will be an easy affair, but he knows. If Ginia doesn't want them to get the necklace off...and if this is a cursed object worth the name, she won't...then they'll have a fight on their hands.]

You should have. But, um, then again...I should have checked in. I, I didn't. I'm sure you did the best you could, Helios, under the circumstances, but...well, um, together, w-we can probably fix this.

[Or so he dearly hopes.]

[ Helios looks down at the floor before he pushes himself up off the tree. ] S-Sorry.

[ He can only hope they can put a stop to the necklace's effects over her. Helios really doesn't want to have to get her out of jail or what have you, because of actions beyond her control. He also doesn't want to have to fight her either. Maybe Giles could talk sense into her where he couldn't. ] I-I'll get us back right away.

[ He is just...going to go and setup that sigil right now then. ]

Don't strain yourself.

[But, no, they need to get back. The sooner, the better. Left without either Helios or Giles to supervise her...

...he supposes he should be glad it's only theft, and not something more nefarious, but he's not. Ginia is cursed and not acting like herself and however you slice it, however mild the effects, that's bad.

So Giles braces himself for the hop. As soon as they appear in Schwanheim, though, he's going to check on Helios to make sure the other doesn't collapse from the effort, or something equally awful.]

[ As soon as they appear in Schwanheim Helios about nearly collapses. Teleporting, and with that distance, without resting for at least a little while will do this Thankfully there's a building right there for him to prop himself against. He'll close his eyes to stop the world from spinning and a few deep breaths before he looks back at Giles, grim faced and slightly pale, but otherwise fine. He will wave Giles off. ] I-I'm fine. J-Just go f-find Ginia. I'll c-catch up.

[ Once he's a bit more...stable. But the first priority is to find Ginia and get her to see reason. ]

...let me get you home, at least.

[Giles watches anxiously as Helios manages to keep himself upright only by virtue of the nearest wall, and reaches out to help steady him a bit more.

He's left Helios to deal with Ginia all this time. Making sure he doesn't pass out on the way home is the least Giles can do, as a friend.

How much else can she steal on the walk home?]

[ Helios lets out a shaky laugh as he shakes his head. ] A-Alright. I-if, if you're sure. Th-thank you.

[ He can totally walk himself home bro. Besides Ginia could steal a lot in a few minutes. Her shadow jumping was proving quite hard to stop. ]

I'm sure.

[Maybe he can, but Helios has worked hard enough on Giles' behalf. At the least, if Ginia steals much more, she's unlikely to get caught doing it.

Funny old world, where that's both the most and least reassuring bit.

And so, keeping close so as to be ready to help Helios if he stumbles, Giles will walk with his friend back to the little house they'd claimed for themselves.]

...Helios, um, I-I hate to ask, but...did you get anything? Off the peddler.

J-just a book. And...empty b-book. [ He hasn't really had time to look at it yet. But knowing this place an empty book could cause so much distress. He gives Giles an apologetic smile. ]

S-Sorry. I-I shouldn't have t-taken it, really. [ Then again he hadn't met the man before. But it didn't seem so bad when he took it up. ] I-I don't know what it does exactly.

...do you mind giving it to me?

[It's not that he doesn't trust Helios. It's just that, whatever it is this peddler is selling seems to have an air about it, that draws people in against their better judgement.

Maybe, if the item wasn't meant for him, it won't affect him too badly.]

We, um, we can puzzle it out later. Once things are...settled.

[ Maybe it wasn't meant for him, or maybe it was because Helios pauses for a brief moment as he debates on the matter. ] Ah. I-I suppose...I-I can keep, you know. I-I'm going to, um, fiddle with it. Until, until I have a better understand of it.

[ It does seem like Giles doesn't trust him with it. This isn't the first time he's dealt with magical objects before. But Giles is just trying to be cautious. ] What are y-you going to do about...?

[ Ginia is the unspoken name. Helios frowns as the house comes into view, as the round the corner. ]

...Helios.

I'm sorry, but...did you hear what you just said?

Y-You're going to fiddle with an object from the same peddler that's currently got Ginia robbing most of Schwanheim?

[But then, Giles sighs - why bother? If Ginia's this far gone after only a couple of days, Helios...

...Giles suddenly feels very, very alone.]

I don't know. Try and talk to her, maybe. Hold her down and cut the necklace off, if that doesn't work. I-I don't know. I'll...have to see for myself, first.

[ Oh. He did say that...out loud. Helios blinks and stops walking for a moment. ] O-Oh. I-I didn't mean to. [ He'll close his eyes and shake his head for a moment. He'll rub his eyes with a pointer finger and thumb. ]

Y-Yes. Sorry. I-I don't know what's gotten into me. Um. M-maybe it's best if you d-did hold onto it... [ oh dear. He was not liking the effects these things were having on either him or Ginia. He looks over at Giles with a concerned expression on his face. ] I-I can...help t-too if, it you want. I-I hope everything goes s-smoothly. M-Maybe there's a way to, um, lure her into a-a binding sigil. [ It sounds terrible to think of Ginia as something to be 'lured' but binding sigils would cancel out that pesky shadow jumping and would make it easier to cut the blasted necklace off of her. ]

[Giles will be holding onto it. Even if Helios changes his mind later, Giles is holding him to this moment of clarity now. He's finding that book, and he's burying it in the yard.

Probably won't do much good, when all is said and done. But, much like the boat, at least it will buy them some time, maybe time enough to bring Ginia to bear.]

...um, how exactly would you go about s-setting one of those up, then?

[ It probably won't, no, but they have to try. Helios blinks and shakes his head. ] I just need some time, some string a piece of something belonging to Ginia, a stone and some chalk. It'll work b-better if I have something of hers. H-Hair, or-or a personal item. Anything will d-do.

[Giles looks somber, but determined all the same. It hurts to have to make these plans and calculate these risks, for Ginia of all people. But it has to be done, before the situation gets even further out of hand.]

She lives in that house just the same as us. There's bound to be some hair around the place. Unless you mentioned that such a spell was possible, I doubt even she would go to the trouble of cleaning up after herself to that degree.

[ It is painful to have to use such tactics and underhanded means against her. Ginia was like a sister to him and having to do this...

He gives Giles a solemn nod. ] I-I haven't. I-I can get everything I need for the spell easily, then. Y-You just...have to let me know if you're alright with this. [ Because he can't imagine how much pain Giles must be in right now. And he certainly won't do this unless Giles wants it done, he'll let the other man decide on that. ]

If there's no other way... [ Then this might very well be their last resort. ]

...be ready.

I, I have a few other methods I might be able to try, but...be ready.

[He won't give up on her yet. He can't. But...it might be their last resort and, if so, they can't waste it.]

What would I need to do, to draw her in?

We'll f-fix this, Giles. I-I know we can. [ Together they can probably do anything. They've beaten and overcome worse odds before. ]

Try to, um, l-lure her out by the two f-faced forest. I-I rather not cause a scene. But, um, if you can...use some things that are valuable, expensive too. That should get her a-attention.

[...

...

...almost unconsciously, Giles' hand moves into his pocket, and tightens around the old gold watch nestled safely there.]

I have something valuable.

[And if she goes for it, Giles will know that she's too far gone. If she actually steals the pocketwatch, then a binding sigil really is their only choice.]

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folklorist - 2012-09-02 03:27 (UTC) - Expand

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