pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

-- What? You should have mentioned that first!!

[ The dying thing, he means. ]

Why? You said your teleportation powers only work over short distances.

[Obviously he said that part too quietly for Hunter to hear!! Either he genuinely believes that, or he's being deliberately obtuse here, who can say.]

What does teleportation have to do with you dying!?

[ Of course he heard, have you seen the size of his ears? ]

[Damn. He was HOPING, okok. Stupid high quality Relic reception that's clear even in Exile, grumble grumble.]

I don't know, ask the Fox! I'm not even trying to leave her stupid world [yet], so much as create a portal stable enough to send a message back home. It shouldn't take so much out of me!

Then what are you DOING? What's so important that maybe dying is okay?

[The message he said he's trying to send, of course!]

It's imperative they know!

[Who?? Draxum, you're so bad at explaining your logic sometimes. Also oops, he was considering letting it go, but now that he has to defend his actions, he's starting to talk himself back into it.]

O'Neil told me no one notices when we leave, and that some part of ourselves must continue on, but what if they don't? What if they take note, and—and do something moronic? [He brushes a hand back threw his hair.] I need to let them know the boys are alive and safe before Michelangelo attempts to rip apart time and space with his bare hands to get them back! He—

[Draxum cuts himself off sharply, not wanting to speak to that fear. The one he didn't have before Casey told him of how he traveled back from the future; the one the boy's dreamscape showed him in crystal clear detail. The one he shouldn't be capable of without training, but still managed to pull off to bring Leo home from the Prison Dimension.

That only worked because he had his brothers to help him. What if he tries it when he's all alone?]

[ Oh.

Oh, that actually is super important, isn't it? Hunter also knows about the whole time travel thing courtesy of Casey, and what he saw in his head ... that WOULD be catastrophic. And there sure are a lot of turtles here...

Hunter gulps a bit. ]

Then let me help. Wh-where are you?

What?

[He snaps out of the fear that seized him for a moment there, surprised. Even touched.]

Hunter, I— [Logic catches back up to him, and ] As I said, I've hit wall after wall in this. I don't know why it's not working, but I know I've only been able to push it as far as I have because I have more energy than most.

[If a galdorstone is like Emyrean, Hunter might have a great deal of magical power inside him too. But while Draxum's willing to risk his life on this (especially knowing death isn't permanent), he's not so sure he's willing to risk Hunter's. Not now that he can finally admit he's quite fond of him.]

Then you need a boost.

[ And Hunter is having much the same thought. Not that he's ever amplified anyone before? But he's made out of tree, and Flapjack would help too, and ... between the two of them, couldn't Draxum manage something? He wants to try. ]

You can use my galdorstone, sir.

[...Casey would kill him if something happened to Hunter. Especially after the scare he just gave them.

But Draxum is an unwise, selfish person, and this is about Michelangelo. If there's a chance, he has to take it—but only if he can also ensure Hunter's safety. The boy might have offered his galdorstone, but Draxum has no intent of using it up on this. To even guess if that's doable though, he'd need to see Hunter in person, so...]

Can you reach Exile?

I think so. Yeah. If it's a flyable place, then no problem.

[ And if not well. Draxum got there right? So can Hunter. ]

It's a flyable land, yes, but a dangerous one. Fortunately, I've spent the last week navigating it. When you reach the edge of Exile's borders, call me back, and I'll send up a signal. Once we're together, we can take a portal back to my shelter, where it's safe.

... All right. Then I'll be there soon.

[ Not what he was expecting to do today, but not bad! Feels kind of nice to have a mission.

He will indeed set out for Exile as soon as he can. And about an hour later, Draxum gets another phone call. ]

[Draxum doesn't answer when he sees it's Hunter, as expected. He simply sends up the promised signal: a familiar kind of giant vine that shoots straight up into the air, higher than even Exile's trees. If Hunter was flying from overhead, it's impossible to miss.]

[ Oh - that certainly works Hunter zooms down, then, skirting the tops of the trees until he hits the vine, and then down where it forces the canopy apart. ]

-- Draxum?

Edited 2024-02-24 22:28 (UTC)

Here. [He raises a hand, retracting the vine into the earth.] Quickly, now. I think some of the flying beasts noticed your approach.

[They'll take a portal as promised to lose them; he's already opening one up.]

[ Hunter jolts and looks back up, where some winged shadows are circling overhead. ]

Right. Uh - lead the way.

[He goes through the portal, trusting Hunter will follow. Where they come out on the other side is miles into Exile, atop a canopy made of Draxum's vines, which is suspended about twenty feet above ground level between four trees.

One of those trees has a hollowed out cubby, which is where Draxum has been staying. He walks across the vines to go inside, gesturing for Hunter to follow.]

We should be safe here.

[The inside of the tree is surprisingly spacious, with a sturdy enough floor to step on. There's room for about three people in here—four, if they squeezed—and some sparse supplies: two sets of bedding, and two sets of rather plain bowls and cups (Draxum apparently isn't the only one using this space), along with a tea kettle, a pen and journal, and a bucket of water for summoning items with Lore.]

Make yourself comfortable. I've brewed a tea that should give us more energy.

[It won't work miracles or anything, but every little bit helps. If Hunter really can help him, they'll be burning through it fast shortly. Draxum pulls a third cup from out of somewhere, and goes to pour them both the tea.]

[ Whoa. This reminds him of the Boiling Isles, actually? The huge tree, the living space set up in it ... he's seen places like this out in the forest.

He approaches cautiously, seeing the tea? taking a cup. ]

We're gonna need it, huh? For something like this.

This will be my final attempt, I decided, so I'm cutting no corners.

[Draxum takes the other cup, making sure the third one not being used is set far to the side. The Japanese lady who visits him sometimes is nice for a human—unfortunately, she also has tuberculosis. Let's not discover if grimwalkers can contract that today.

Draxum takes a seat atop the larger set of blankets, towards the back of the hollow. His Relic is there, and he turns it back on and open to Belos's notes. He would have been reviewing them while waiting for Hunter, specifically any section mentioning galdorstones to get an idea of how powerful they are, and if the energy inside them can be replenished, or if once it's used it's all gone. That'll determine how he goes about this plan, but if the information isn't in the notes, he'll have to ask Hunter.]

[ That's a good call. Who knows with Hunter, really.

Hunter carefully sits down, then, looking over at the ... ah. The notes. No surprise, he supposes, but still a little weird.

It looks like it's a mix: they do replenish themselves, especially when in a living(ish) creature like a grimwalker; sunlight and food help bring it back up. But a fully depleted galdorstone is simply dead, with no helping it back from the brink. As long as Draxum doesn't completely drain Hunter, he has a path back to filling up again.

(And how does Belos know this? Well. Murder, of course. The first was an accident; the ones after that ... an easy disposal method.) ]

How do we do this?

[Oh yes. If it's all in the notes, Draxum can connect the terrible dots. He'll be sure to call it before things go too far—and if Hunter pushes himself too far, he has a backup plan as well to bring him back from the brink: a gemstone rich with magical energy than he found in the Encantado River. It's his ace in the hole.]

On paper, it's simple enough. You said I needed a boost—I assume that means you know how to lend your energy to another person?

[If not, Draxum can show him how. Hunter's unique nature means the alchemist is more compatible with him for these purposes than he'd be with anyone else.]

Is Flapjack listening? His role will also be key to the plan.

[And Draxum would like to talk to him alone before they begin, similar to the way they spoke internally when Hunter let him wield the palisman weeks ago. Draxum's hoping Hunter will listen to him and stop when he says stops, but as he said, he's taking no chances. He'll be entrusting Flapjack with the most crucial part of the plan.]

I - uh -

[ While Hunter hesitates, Flapjack resumes birb form and flutters to Hunter's shoulder. He's here, he's ready to go. What's up? ]

Not ... intentionally? But I think - sometimes, when Belos was at his worst, he would lean on me. And I would feel dizzy and drained afterwards.

[After reading those notes, Draxum can't say he's surprised, but he still makes a face. Fuck Belos.]

I will teach you how, then. In practice, try to visualize it as using a palisman, but in reverse—you will be amplifying my energy, instead of the other way around.

[He extends a hand towards Flapjack, offering a perch.] As we're technically combining two different kinds of magic, however, we'll need Flapjack. Since he's worked with both of us, he should be able to work as a bridge. Let me determine the best method with him, and then we'll begin the instruction.

[Hopefully Hunter explained what they're doing here; if not, Draxum will explain that too. He wants to make it very clear to the palisman he has no intention of letting Hunter come to harm.]

[ Flapjack flutters closer to Draxum and peeps. Yes, he got the briefing on the way over - he knows what's gonna happen here.

And you best bELEIVE he's gonna make sure you don't drain Hunter to death here. He's watching you. ]

Right. I think - I can probably do that.

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