fiddlestick | aefenglom IC Inbox

[He frowns a little at that. Elliot just got here, so it's not really surprising that he hasn't bonded yet. That makes cycling his magic all the more important.]

I'd volunteer if I thought it might help you, but I'm a Witch too. It's not-- forbidden, but since you're still new to all of this, I don't think it would be a good idea. You'd be leaning on me to keep both of us stable. I'm sure you'll find someone eventually, you just need to be open about it-- if you get along with a Monster, then ask them.

[He folds his arms.]

Why don't we start with that, then? I want to see what you've learned.

Y-Yeah, I know. Bonding with a witch would just make the problem worse. I just...need to suck it up and ask a monster. There's at least one I think would be good...

[but oh, right. Magic. He gives a nervous little nod.]

Okay, here goes.

[Elliot concentrates on drawing out that water energy, humming as he does so. He's done this every day, so it's pretty easy now for him to summon that bucket's worth of water. It hangs in the air in front of him, turning around until it forms into an orb shape. It's still slightly lopsided, but it's still pretty dang good for a relative newbie at this school of magic.]

Edited 2019-06-17 06:02 (UTC)

Good, good. Just-- you know, it doesn't have to be romantic, if that's holding you back. You're asking for a lifeline and offering yours.

[Mikleo watches Elliot work. He pays special attention to the movements he uses as well as the humming. That's interesting, but he's not surprised; one of his early classes had mentioned that sometimes people could adapt the same phrases they used to cast spells on their worlds and have it call to magic the same way. Humming a little melody is just as effective as any verbal incantation or hand motion.]

I'm impressed. You've been here... a couple weeks? That's about what I could conjure, too.

-- O-Oh, no. I know that. It's more... [he sighs] I don't really know anyone that well. If my friends were here, I'd ask them for a bond without a second thought. But...they're not.

[And overcoming that chasm of loneliness is harder than he initially thought it'd be. He thought it'd be similar to how he stopped seeing them every day when he went to the music academy. But even then...they were always a phone call away. Rean and Machias were a train ride away. And Fie would pop in whenever she'd have business in the capital.

But here...there was nothing. No phone messages from Millium, no letters from Jusis or Gaius or Emma, no routine check-ins from Alisa or Laura. The silence was surprisingly deafening. And finding a new sound to overcoming it felt so....difficult.

But enough about that. He shakes himself out of those thoughts, smiling a little weakly]

Aha..thanks. I've been working hard to get it right, though to be fair, water's always been my best element. I'm still trying to get a handle on the others.

[Mikleo frowns as Elliot goes on. He might not outright say that he's lonely but Mikleo has seen that sadness and isolation in other people. In... himself. He's quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say.

In the end he decides to channel Sorey a little and speak from the heart.]

I know what that's like. All you can do is keep reaching out-- keep working toward finding a way back to them.

You've come this far on your own two feet, haven't you?

[As for the magic...]

There's value in training up your weaknesses. I'll show you runes later since that's more of a passive magical reaction and I brought you out here to cycle your magic.

How about healing spells?

[..........]

...R-Right. Forward, relentlessly.

[He repeats the old mantra to himself as if to encourage himself. He had to keep trying it he wanted to make it home to his loved ones.

However, it doesn't do anything to ease the sadness and isolation. It was a good try Mikleo, but not entirely effective

As for the magic, yeah. He's got it. He's all for training his weaknesses, so he just nods along. ]

I've got a minor healing spell down, but it's not like there's any injuries for me to treat now.

Exactly.

[That wasn't as effective as he was hoping but that just means he'll need to be persistent.]

There's something they didn't mention in class. I'll show you.

[He conjures a small jagged piece of ice and slices his right palm with it, only barely wincing. It's deep enough to start pooling in his hand.]

Try healing this.

[With that amount of blood, the spell will be enhanced somewhat. Blood is a very important reagent for potions as well as spells.]

[!!!!!!!

Well that sure causes him a shock! He jolts back in horror because DUDE. DUDE]

What're you doing?! Are you crazy?!

[He will heal it though, giving a hum to throw a spell at it. Mostly so Mikleo STOPS THE BLEEDING. The cut will knit itself up with a cooling sensation.

Which no. He doesn't notice the difference in power because you didn't explain it and he's too busy going into Healer Mode to care about theoretics. ]

There! Now don't do that again!

[Mikleo is just... calm? He had it handled? But of course his first reaction is to snap right back.]

I know exactly what I was doing-- I'm a healer too. How am I supposed to show you blood magic without blood?

[He sighs and looks over his hand.]

Well, it looks like you healed it just fine. You don't feel dizzy or anything?

I'm fine.

[I'm not the one cutting myself like an idiot!! In fact Elliot is still worked up]

And you do it with words?! You know, talking?!

You don't just cut yourself with no explanation! O-Or at all! How do you think you'd react if I had just done the same thing??

[Welp. Mikleo's not usually one to poke at something until it bites back, so he takes note of Elliot's vehemence. His lips form a line-- but he does listen.]

It'd depend on the context but--

[He pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes.]

No, you're right. I would be yelling even more than you are.

... Sorry. I keep forgetting that I'm human now. A deep enough wound and I won't be able to recover. Not like I used to.

[He breathes out when Mikleo apologizes. Allowing himself to calm down. It's not like he likes being mad, he was just freaked out.]

...It's fine, I get it. You're still getting used to it.

Just next time warn me, or give me an explanation instead. People don't like seeing their friends hurt themselves.

... Yes. I'll do that.

[He rests a hand on his hip and lets the other one curl around his staff. Friend is... such a strong word, but considering what he's seen from Elliot, he's not averse to it.]

Do you want the explanation?

Thank you.

[Sorry what? I'm lonely and clingy and you've spoken to me twice now. WE FRIENDS]

Yes please, I wasn't sure what you were getting at before.

[Elliot will now DIE FOR YOU. Mikleo isn't going to turn him down just because he's feeling a little prickly though, he knows he was in the wrong.]

Not long after I got here, I ventured outside the wall with someone and he ended up getting hurt. I didn't really know anything beyond the most basic of healing spells and I was having trouble casting because of the corruption, but I channeled everything I had into healing-- and it worked. I healed my friend's wounds that day and I shouldn't have been able to do that.

As it turns out, healers here use blood-- theirs or their patient's-- as a way to boost the effectiveness of their magic. Unfortunately, I couldn't control it and ended up being unable to use my magic for a week or so. I completely wore myself out.

Blood and water aren't that different. That makes it even more important that you know what you're getting into.

[No that's Rean. Elliot will just heal you because he's not dumb.

He'll be a good student, listening to the story. He makes a bit of a concerned face when Mikleo talks about going outside the wall so soon. He'd been out of the wall a couple times by now, but never alone and always cautious of his environment.]

Sounds like you guys got really lucky...

[It's a good thing they did. He liked Mikleo, and he didn't want anything to happen to the person he was with either.]

Blood huh. That's...definitely different than how healing arts worked back in my world. [Also, pretty gross.] I can see why they don't teach it often in class...

[That's something that could easily be exploited or twisted in the wrong hands. He saw a boy get kidnapped and forcibly shoved into a corrupted divine knight because of his bloodline. Goddess knows what someone like Duke Cayenne would do with a piece of knowledge like this.]

I'll keep it in mind though. Thank you for telling me.

Yes. And before you get any ideas, we did catch hell for it.

[He nods.]

Witch blood is powerful in itself, too. It's dangerous, but if someone is going feral you might be able to calm them with a small amount.

[He smiles faintly.]

From one healer to another.

[ it might take another day for eren to come around— the day after the true moon was still full moon, and oddly enough he just felt completely drained. his head pounds from the hits they took from challenging ack to a horn brawl (which dragons weren’t made for, rams were), and just. hangover, he has a monster hangover.

the festival would start in . . . perhaps two days, he slept a lot and he’s just sort of lost in the week. he’ll use the time to regain himself, his discipline and places he had to visit, things he had to do, people he had to see and tasks to complete snooping to be had. the first place he’s decided to visit without a watch warning, are the barracks. he knows full well how elliot smells like—

and honestly, he’s worried about him. that night was fiery, happened fast, as it was . . . purely, purely carnal. it felt odd, to leave a first time together like that, for reasons he’d get to verbally. his tongue flicking doesn’t come to a halt even after he’s pinpointed the scent, just to be sure (out of growing habit because he doesn’t actually need it, he could feel the presence in their bond thinning distance). when its as if he’s right next to him scurrying from a corner, eren’s heart jumps— he swears he thought he’d run right into him, and freezes.

but he doesn’t. a bright head of ginger hair strikes him with color, and there he stands. now he’s the one, at least for a second, who’s the lizard in headlights.

he’s saying hello from afar, and assessing if it’s okay to approach. ]

[ Well, it's safe to say the full moon hadn't gone down in any way that Elliot had expected. His magic had become weaker instead of stronger, which seemed contrary to everything the Coven had expected. His magic seemed to be going back to normal now that the full moon was over, but it was yet another mystery to be worried about.

And on top of that...there'd been his time with Eren. He really hadn't expected it to go the way it did. The following days while Eren rested, Elliot spent time sorting things out. He asked the Coven if there was anything to be worried about. After a couple examinations it was concluded there wasn't. He just had a naturally high aptitude for Bonds and it probably wasn't the wisest choice to start his very first Bond right before a full moon with a dragon in the mating season. It was ironic that the same trait that got him into Class VII was the same that got him into this, but it was nothing that couldn't be handled with time and practice.

Those concerns out of the way, it was a matter of the emotional side. It was hard to wrap his head around it. He wanted to talk to Eren, but it was pretty easy to tell Eren was deeply sleeping in the bond. Probably some...dragon hibernation thing. He has no choice but to table things aside from thinking things through himself.

At least a few days later until he feels a familiar tug on the bond. Eren was awake, and moving closer. When it becomes clear that Eren is in the barracks, Elliot will step out of his room and wait for him.

While Eren freezes like a lizard in the headlights, Elliot will approach him. He's a little nervous about what to say, but he'll at least handle this part better than our draconic friend]

Hey Eren.

Here to see me, or...?

[he's pretty sure he picked up the intentions to see him through the bond, but...well, anxiety always dictates that he's reading too much into it so one can never be sure]

[ okay, so at least— there’s a nod coming from these headbobs eventually. or was he just nodding this entire time? don’t ask kaede. eren expresses a yeah with a more curt grunt, but he’s . . . mm. not quite nervous, but, he’s feeling something. ]

You don’t have to second guess yourself.

[ it’s exactly what he’s here for. He wouldn’t be in the barracks, in this spot for anything else. it’s okay to approach, he’s being shown, so he does. his demeanor is nothing like the hedge maze, for starters. he’s still prone to intimacy, but— he had enough eren in mind to handle self far better.

believe him. when experienced monsters at the coven told him he had a summer mating season was the most mind blowing thing he’s heard next to humanity has not perished. ]

Got a minute?

J-Just making sure! I don't get many visitors.

[Most of the people he did know, he saw in class or just around town. It wasn't like he thought his room in the barracks was worth inviting anyone to.

He can tell that Eren's demeanor seems different. A little awkward, but more like the guy before the full moon. And the awkward...well, it was understandable, all things considered]

Yeah... I-I was hoping to talk to you actually. Wanna come in?

[He gestures to the open door that led to his room. Inside, it was well a very standard barrack bedroom. There's a few instruments (the violin he bought secondhand, a pile of recorders from failed conjuring attempts), some clothes, his staff, and a single vase of flowers Elliot was using as an attempt to spruce up the place. Other than that, it looks like Elliot hasn't done much at all to personalize it.]

[ not all your visitors are bonded, my dude, my sweet summer child who certainly could use a self confidence boost. ]

Thanks.

[ for letting him into his space, of course, nodding and entering. his tongue goes on a fairly habitual mapping spree, smelling this and tasting that without putting his hands on anything that isn’t his. It’s better decorated than anything eren would do or was used to (apart from mikleo’s insane amount of plants, but he can’t judge when he keeps sharp objects in a corkscrew hole under a cottage). he doubletakes, and immediately, slit lizard pupils hone in on a relevant instrument: the violin. ]

—You found one.

[ he’s not immediately changing the subject, just— making sure he doesn’t ignore another one they talked about on the first day they met. important things!! ]

[he closes the door after Eren comes in, to give them some privacy. His own thoughts were so occupied with how this talk would go, he doesn't notice Eren looking around his room until he speaks up]

Hm? [He looks, seeing that Eren is looking at the violin] - Oh, yeah!

[He can't help it, his tone brightens automatically, talking about his violin]

I got lucky and found it in a secondhand store. It's a big relief.

[he clasps his hands together] I promised to play you a song, didn't I? Remind me to do that later.

[ !!!! later, is good. eren agrees with no quarrel, and now . . . what he actually came here for. he inhales, not too sharp, but he does hold his breath for a moment, look around, then find a place to sit. the bed, the floor, a chair, it didn’t really matter. as long as they had a place to settle the slight tension he was feeling on his shoulders. that he’s silently denying exists. ]

Deal.

[ breathe out. alright. he’s not going to run around in circles here, neither is he going to waste time explaining he doesn’t really do that when it’s. sort of obvious he doesn’t. ]

About Full Moon— I have a heat season until August. [ he. feels like he needs to let him know that. if you ask him are you horny now he’ll probably admit yeah a little, but there’s nothing compared to the blow out of full moon. he can just pleasure himself and it’ll be manageable. either way, there’s more. eren spends a moment or so massaging the bridge of his nose, before it slides up and idly past the curve of his horns. ] . . . I’m worried about how you feel.

[ eren admits, rather easily. it was obvious it felt good, but emotionally— mm. he wasn’t the type to sleep around, neither would he use people just for himself. it was a sacred moment in the sense that he exposed his intimacy and vice versa, and that alone was select to, right now, the only people who connect to him the most: his bonded.

but with elliot it still . . . felt like he pounced over a flight of stairs just to satiate desire and it didn’t feel right to leave at that. eren’s eyes are sincere as his feelings are: he isn’t lying about being worried about the other’s feelings. ]

I don’t regret a second of it. [ that’s when the scales of his cheeks flush a little scarlet, against charcoal. he ducks his head a little awkwardly, but raises eye contact again. this was important. ] But feeling used or interchangeable is the last thing I want. And the one thing I’ll regret.

[ he wasn’t just some. piece of meat he could cook up and dine whenever he felt like it. he was a person and he needed respect. eren just can’t shake off the feeling that at some point, he could’ve— expressed that, as accidental as it was, lizard brain is very direct in what it wants and it may not translate the same way to human brain. he isn’t remorseful, again, but, if elliot feels like trash because of him, man.

no need for any more regrets, his plate is full for a lifetime here. ]

[There's a chair at the desk. Meanwhile, Elliot will sit on the edge of the bed. Right, no more talking about music. They had to address the actual elephant in the room.

So quietly, Elliot will hear Eren out. He's not sure what to expect, this is new territory for him. But ... hearing his words? Really touched Elliot. Eren was worried about him, and his feelings. He had come all this way just to check on him. It hit home right then that he'd made the right choice with his Bond. Eren was a good person.

He'll address the heat season in a bit. The coven had already told him, after the fact. So it doesn't come as a big surprise.]

...I don't feel used. [he says sincerely] I mean, I admit I didn't expect my first time to happen like that, but...

[He moves a lock of hair behind his ear nervously. He looks at Eren with a worried expression]

If anything, I've been worried about you. And if what happened is what you wanted. I mean...I promised to help get you through the full moon and keep you in check. I thought I'd be able to handle it because I'm used to Combat Links, but it turns out the thing that makes me good at those is what made ... well, that happen.

[How quickly he went along with the heat, how it completely overrode any sense of reason. He'd always felt attraction towards Eren, many of those feelings that night had been his own. But had he taken more time to prepare, maybe he could've shown some restraint.]

I mean to say ... I don't regret what happened, but ... only if you don't either.

[Not just the dragon part, looking to satisfy the need. Eren was still a person, separate from that. He didn't want him hating himself the morning after a full moon.]

Edited 2019-06-28 14:39 (UTC)

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