pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[ 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?

It is. [Draxum confirms that quickly, reaching for said message: a scroll neatly rolled up, made of some kind of plant-like parchment. He sticks it in one of his sleeves, where he'll have quick access to it.] Heck, if this works, it might be the most important thing we could do. I could get the boys home to their father—the rest of you away from here, to wherever you want to go. It would solve all our problems.

[Oh yeah, that hope is burning bright in his chest again. He's looking on the bright side, and daring to dream! All the same:]

But I'm not going to risk your life to make that happen. If that's what it takes...

[He hesitates, the old all-or-nothing mentality rearing its ugly head once again, but he forces it down. No, his mind is made up.]

If that's what it takes, it's not worth it. [Draxum looks at the scroll, poking out of his sleeve.] Michelangelo wouldn't want that.

[ A message ... Hunter stares at it, one hand lifting up as if to touch it. He would sacrifice a lot too to get it out of here, wouldn't he?

But not death. No. Casey would be sad as well. How would he explain it after? IF he came home like that ... ]

Casey wouldn't either.

[Draxum nods. Here in backdated land, he's still fresh off his own trip into Casey's mindscape, so he has an idea of how that would affect him.]

I think we can both agree he's lost enough.

[Draxum looks away as he says that, trying not to recall those memories of his sons—future version or not—dying in graphic detail. The alchemist has had enough time struggling on his own out here to recognize his fear is irrational now, but it still drives him.]

...Unless this works, we shouldn't tell him. And I'm not just saying that to save my own skin. If his mindscape was any indication, Jones isn't the type to let things go, and if he knew my reasons, he might blame himself.

[Provided he didn't kill Draxum first, or something. And that's to say nothing of how upset he'd be with Hunter, but Draxum doesn't know enough about their relationship to speculate.]

[ Too much. Yeah.

Worth it to try, not enough to die. Hunter nods, then, and grips Flapjack more firmly. ]

I get it. He - probably would.

[ Hunter bows his head a bit. ]

I'm really bad at lying though.

[So it's an inevitability, then. Draxum sighs.]

Just do your best. If it comes out, I'll accept the consequences.

[He's worried it will ruin things with Casey if it does... But if he's going through with this, he deserves that. Hunter's not the only one who's had ample opportunity to back out here. Unlike the last time he made Casey angry, this is no accident, so he'll accept whatever comes down from this on the head.]

So long as it doesn't interfere with our ability to work together on the robot and the ritual, I'll deal.

[He's sabotaged almost every relationship he's ever had, even with the best of intentions. If he's not forgiven... Well, he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it, and hope this time something remains standing.]

[ It's super inevitable, sorry Draxum. He will try and then he will fail miserably.

Anyway, Hunter nods a bit at that. Right. This will be fine, right? They'll succeed and Casey will be so relieved that Michelangelo is safe. Right??? ]

I - I will.

[ He grips Flapjack again. ]

I'm ready sir.

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