pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[ 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.

Finish your tea, then. We won't take long.

[Draxum and Flapjack didn't really confer with words so much as vibes last time; the yokai isn't precisely sure they can? But using his mystic powers over plants (and maybe a touch of a telepathic spell, if that's not enough), he's going to make an attempt here.

There's a few things Flapjack will definitely notice first as Draxum considers what he wants, though; details he's uniquely poised to observe, as they've worked together before. Namely?

1. Draxum is tired. Hunter noticed it when they spoke, but Draxum has been hiding the true extent of it. His mystical energy is only at about 70% of what it was the last time he and Flapjack worked together. Draxum has more strength to him than the average person—the amount of energy he's lost would be enough to kill someone with lesser reserves.

2. It's a vague thing, but Flapjack may have gotten the sense before that for all the brute force he wields, Draxum's actually lies in his endurance and recovery time. To have a significant dip like this... whatever he's been doing out here, he's probably tried over, and over, and over again. Either it's taken more out of Draxum than expected, he's not giving himself enough time to recuperate, or both.

3. That threat is met with approval. He's counting on you to keep him in line, Flapjack—a point that's made all the clearer when the means for direct communication is established.

I have an item I'm keeping in reserve. A powerful energy source I found in the river, he tells the palisman. It could be used to give us the final push needed to open the portal, but if I sense it's impossible or Hunter's life is in danger, I will use it to replenish his energy instead. You'll be acting as both my amplifier and bridge between us, but I also need you to monitor his energy levels and warn me before he approaches his limit.

There's a brief pause there, as Draxum glances back to Hunter. Flapjack will probably get the sense he's concerned—about a lot of things, actually, but Hunter is the current focus.

If it gets to that point and I told him to stop, do you think he'd listen? I don't know if I should trust him with this information, or withhold it for his own safety.

The turtles have taught him to be wary. Teenagers, always thinking they know best and doing their own thing. Belos beat obedience into Hunter, but he doesn't know the boy well enough to say he won't push himself recklessly if he knows there's a backup plan.]

Edited (spelling) 2024-02-25 04:29 (UTC)

[ Flapjack cocks his head to and fro, taking in ... well, all of that. Or at least it looks like he does? The little bird is always just a bit mysterious, and very good at keeping things to himself.

But he seems to have a good sense of what's going on, and he radiates dim approval right back. Good plan. Good to respect the birb. He cares for this kid and he's glad you do too.

As for the question ... it's a good one. Draxum will sense Flapjack's uncertainty as he considers Hunter for a moment. On the one hand? The boy is absolutely obedient and would probably both benefit from and strictly follow any rules laid out for him. On the other hand ... if there's anyone Hunter would push himself unnecessarily for, it's Draxum. He's hitting just the right blend of "Belos but not a total asshole" to tempt Hunter into all sorts of bad decisions.

Flapjack shifts a little bit and shakes his head. Don't tell him. He might go too far if he knows he'll be okay.

In a way, maybe that's progress. Hunter should be making more boneheaded teenaged decisions in general.

Meanwhile, Hunter slowly finishes his tea, eying the teapot. This whole exchange flies over his head. ]

Does someone else come here too?

Occasionally.

[To Flapjack, Draxum nods. Very well, we'll keep it between us. The last thing I have to say, then, is to also withhold the truth about the energy transfer. I'm going to present it as an advanced technique he can't do without more instruction, or the two of us guiding him.

You know, lest something bad happen in the future and Hunter get the bad idea to make a habit of this. If he'd offer himself up as a battery for Draxum, the alchemist doesn't want to see how fast he'd leap to do it for others—now equipped with the very tools to make it happen. In truth, energy transfer is more of an intermediate skill; Flapjack will get the sense that his presence will make it a smoother process, but that Draxum could do it without a palisman. By using Flapjack, he's intentionally trying to make the technique seem harder than it is, thereby putting the idea in Hunter's head that he can't do it alone. Should he try, hopefully Flapjack will enforce the white lie.

That covers everything I have to say. Is there anything you want me to know?]

A human woman came upon my camp not long ago, surprisingly respectful in nature. But she does her own thing, just as I do mine. I'm not expecting her back soon.

[...Right. Just in case, Draxum should probably warn him:] She has a grave illness, however. It's contagious, so leave her things alone—that's why her set of dishes and cutlery are set to the side from ours.

[ Yeah, good call there too. Flapjack bobs his head in approval and gives Hunter a side-eye. That boy does not have good judgement when it comes to risking himself, so ... Flapjack will 100% go along with the lie that a palisman is necessary.

He burbles a bit and sends another message over: If you mess this up I'll kill you. Polite! Fond, even. He will cut you for this child.

Anyway. Hunter flinches a bit at the mention of illness. ]

O-oh. Uh - all right, I'll stay away? I don't know if I can catch human diseases but...

[Draxum snorts at that. Yes, yes, point taken. The timing of it makes it sound like that's in response to Hunter, though, so Draxum proceeds smoothly.]

Me either. Let's not find out, yeah?

[Lowering the arm he was letting Flapjack use as a perch, Draxum asks the palisman to turn back into staff mode as he focuses back on Hunter.]

We're ready now. Did you finish your tea?

[ Flapjack obliges, then. And Hunter nods, stepping forward. ]

Yeah. I'm ready. What do I need to do?

This is an advanced technique among yokai, but Flapjack and I will make it easy for you.

[He holds out the staff, with the expectation they'll hold onto Flapjack together.]

Your palisman is our bridge. I'll act through him, and he'll convert your power into something I can use, but you'll be the one controlling how much energy you let out at once. It's a bit like using a sink—you can let it out at the pace of a trickle, or crank the knob and unleash a steady torrent.

[Once they're both holding onto the staff, Draxum nods.] Let's practice. I'm going to reach out to you with my mystic power now; you'll feel a tug. Don't resist it. While controlling the flow, let it be pulled from you, and start small.

[When Hunter signals he's good to start, Draxum will begin.]

Ready?

[ Hunter reaches out and takes the other end of Flapjack, then. His gaze is serious as he stares at Draxum, concentrating. Back into guard mode, at least for a little while. It's kind of nice doing it with someone who he doesn't think will hurt him. Not like Belos ... it's nice to reclaim those feelings.

He takes in a deep breath and nods. ]

I'm ready.

[How different would his life had been, had he someone like Hunter at his side? The gargoyles respected and applauded his ambition, but he never inspired such dedication in them. Draxum's not sure he wouldn't have abused it if it was offered to him in those day, so it's for the best, but here he is both moved and grateful.

Taking a deep breath to center himself, he begins, his hand glowing where it wraps around the staff. As promised, Hunter will feel that tug. It's up to him to release and control the flow of energy, but Draxum will coax him through it.]

You should feel it now. Picture your energy like a stream, and direct it outside you.

[ Maybe it's better for both of them to meet at this time in their lives: Draxum, after he's learned not to abuse, and Hunter, after he's learned not to endure abuse.

Anyway. Hunter closes his eyes and tries to let it come out of him slowly. That doesn't quite work at first - all his instincts tell him to let ALL of it out at once - but Flapjack slows him, and it gives him a moment to get himself under control. Slowly Just a drip. Just a little...

Draxum quickly begins to get a slow steady flow of power, courtesy of Flapjack mediating it. ]

I-is it working?

Yes, I can feel it.

[Through Flapjack, Draxum felt a bit of that instinct to unleash it all at once, a tell to both Hunter's inexperience and raw strength. He would love to train this boy further, he thinks. Help him reach his potential.]

I'm going to send it back to you now. Remember, this is just practice. Take your time experimenting with increasing and decreasing the amount of energy you send, while still keeping it moving in a steady stream.

[Draxum leads by example, sending that trickle of magical power Hunter gave him back—along with a little of his own. It should be faint enough Hunter won't notice, but Draxum is using this as a chance to confirm he'll be able to top off Hunter's reserves should they dip too low.]

[ Right. Okay. Hunter takes in another deep breath. He lets the energy flow back in then, and while he doesn't notice it himself, Draxum will indeed feel the energy come back out of him; Hunter looks a little brighter as a result. Yeah. That absolutely worked. ]

It's ... not as hard as I thought it would be.

[Good. He's pretty sure they can do this safely now? It will still be dangerous, for reasons he's about to explain, but every precaution has been taken and the conditions are ideal. Draxum is feeling confident—and even starting to hope?]

You're learning quickly. Remember, this is only possible because you have both myself and Flapjack to guide you, though. Don't attempt this on your own—it's still too advanced for you.

[Just gonna keep enforcing that white lie, back him up here Flapjack. If he finds out you offered your literal heart as a battery ~~to anyone but him~~ again, he's going to be so mad! He has no parental authority, but he will ground you for a hundred years if he has to, young man!!!]

[ Hunter makes a face - he can HANDLE it, SHEESH - but Flapjack shits a bit on the staff and fixes him with a disapproving look. It quells his objection. ]

R - right. I guess ... I've never done this before. And it'd be dangerous if I messed it up.

Exactly. [Draxum nods with approval; that's a good maybe-apprentice.] And unfortunately so far as danger goes, this will be a trial by fire.

[He should explain that, as Hunter continues to practice here.]

As I mentioned earlier, my attempts to create a portal home has been energy-intensive. Crossing dimensions always is, but opening a gate that leads away from Folkmore is unusually so. Reaching the Twilight Realm took less out of me.

[He says that so casually. Opening portals to other dimensions is just a thing Draxum can do, apparently??]

Approaching it at a slow and steady pace did nothing but drain my energy over the course of a few hours. Using all my power at once would leave me spent in a matter of minutes instead, but with intense pain and no better results to show for it. The portal forms, but does not connect.

[He looks back at Hunter.] If we try this, even working together I suspect you'll begin to feel the effects. Are you sure you want to commit to this? This is your last chance to back out.

[ APPARENTLY? Wow um. That actually startles Hunter. Belos would have KILLED to have access to Draxum back before he died, given his fixation on getting back to the Human Realm.

Hunter swallows rather thickly as the reality of what they're about to do sinks in. ]

It's gonna be a lot at once. Right? I might pass out.

Or worse. [Draxum confirms.] Which is why if we do this, we stop before it comes to that. Understand? If you start to feel weak, or there's any pain, we push no further.

[Even if it means Draxum has to give up on this—on Michelangelo.]

[ Or worse. Right. He can guess at what that means.

And yet... ]

What about the message? Isn't it important?

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