[august open] rock and roll all night

[rutility]

Characters: Rutile, Yato, Valdis, and maybe you!
Date: Early August
Location: The Dreaming Bridge, the Ioduan Academy
Situation: Roommate trouble and metaplot business
Warnings/Rating: None!



Note: Please don't tag into the open if we already have a thread for AC this month planned!

A ▸ MARKING TERRITORY | yato (early august)

It is after a long day of being caught out in the rain that Rutile returns to the Dreaming Bridge, soaking wet and with a mood to match. The days of reduced sunlight have taken their toll, and Rutile longs for nothing more than to hang their coat up to dry and collapse into bed for the next forty-eight or so hours. But it is to their great disappointment that they open the door to their room and find their bed hidden away.

Listen. It is not organic beings' fault that they are inclined to nest. That is only natural, and it makes sense; with their heightened sensitivity to the environment and functional needs, they require space where they can spread out and lounge and separate important objects from waste. Rutile only wishes it wasn't their space, as well.

How, they wonder, is anyone to get any kind of work done when there are garments and accessories strewn across the floor? It is worse than Red Beryl's chambers, for the love of Sensei.

"Yato," they grumble, half to themselves and half to summon the god. "Can you please pick up your things?"



B ▸ WITH ENEMIES LIKE THESE | valdis (slightly less early august)

It's several days now since the Narrakra returned to Aifaran, and Rutile still can't get its creaking hull and ghastly sights out of their mind. That's what brings them to the hallowed halls of the Ioduan Academy, searching for a naturalist they've contacted about their collected samples from the ship. Now Rutile passes through the campus in search of them, following signs with only half a mind to what they say, more preoccupied with their thoughts.

The void-like stone they found that foggy night sits firmly against their thigh. They have not let it out of their possession since their conversation with Kit a few days ago, and even though they are no closer to answers, they wonder about its properties and origin. They have not mentioned it to anyone else, but perhaps this naturalist can offer some reprieve.

Outside, the sky is darkening; angry clouds gather just beyond the mountains, threatening to drench the library courtyard. Rutile is glad of the indoors.



C ▸ ANTICIPATION OF PRECIPITATION | open (unspecified)

This is the tenth day in a row that it has not rained, not sprinkled, but stormed, and Rutile is quickly sickening of it. For the tenth day in a row they've tried to go out and catch what little sunlight they can, but for the tenth day in a row they've ducked under a canopy as the first drops splash in their eyes. The new paint on their skin is waterproof, Padparadscha says, but habit is as habit does, and frankly, Rutile doesn't trust anything they didn't compound themselves. Also, stone or not, being drenched is just unpleasant.

Most of the denizens of Aifaran have the same idea, slipping into stores and zipping up raincoats; the few that don't are aquatic species, lucky bugs, and enjoying themselves while everyone else suffers.

... Or not. Some select few pull out long sticks that transform into covers with the press of a button and carry on their way, happily protected by their portable canopies in lovely colors and patterns. For a moment Rutile watches, brief irritation crossing their face, and then they demand: "Where can one get one of those?"



D ▸ WILD CARD | open

[ PM me or hit me up on plurk for a starter, or just write one in yourself! I'm game for anything. ]

Comments

B

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis spent plenty of time avoiding the Aisling Tower, but she needed to figure out more about what had happened on the Narrakra with both her magic and what the crew had done in order to return. The rain came on suddenly, or perhaps it was simply because she hadn't been paying attention to the weather as she sat in the Library courtyard and read the book she had borrowed. The first drops sent her toward the closest building and by the time she was through the door it was pouring. She took a breath and pulled the book out from under her arm to check the damage. A bit wet, but it would be fine.

"I really wish this weather would just chill," she said to no one in particular.

She found an inside bench to sit on, unbuckling her sword from her belt to lean it next to her. Valdis didn't think she'd need to draw it anytime soon. The glow faded slightly as she released it, but the gem in the hilt kept up a steady pulse nonetheless.

[rutility]

Rutile passes by only moments after Valdis has settled on the bench, their heels echoing off the wooden floors. They recognize Valdis in a flash of dismay: here is the person who was so disagreeable on the network several weeks ago, in the same place as Rutile as if dictated by fate.

Rutile would really rather it was anyone else; still, with the conversation with Padparadscha fresh on their mind, they swallow their pride and resolve to be civil. They both have to live here, after all - may as well attempt to be nice.

"I really wish this weather would just chill."

"It can be as chilly as it wants, so long as it stops being so wet," Rutile says neutrally, and then throws in an over-exaggeration - some humor, to lighten the mood. "I think I will melt if this continues."

The weather is a safe topic, right?

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis looks up, one brow raised when she recognizes Rutile. They are being rather nice considering how much she'd played with them the other day. She isn't quite sure what to say to the joke, or really what to say at all.

"The weather?" she asks, "Of all topics, you choose the weather?"

A light laugh follows and she closes her book to give Rutile her full attention.

"I do appreciate your attempts at pleasant conversation, but I think our minds are better off focusing on higher pursuits than making small talk. Wouldn't you agree?"

[rutility]

If Valdis is paying attention, she might notice that Rutile’s appearance has changed from the last time they met in person. On that bright sunny day Rutile’s hair had been a lovely carmine juxtaposed with gold; now both have darkened and lost their luster, taking on unsaturated hues that only recall what they once were.

But, that could just be the light.

Rutile’s eyes narrow a hair’s breadth when Valdis laughs at them. If t is what they get for trying -

“On the contrary,” Rutile says with a cold smile, gloved hands settling on their hips. “I would say that the sharpest minds are adept at many things, including small pleasantries. What good is your work, after all, if you can’t communicate it effectively?

“But,” they go on, with a flourish of their hand, “if you feel your book is more worth your time, I will leave you to it.” And they almost do: they take another step forward, ready to continue on their way. They have an appointment, after all.

[redlightgreenlight]

If she notices the change in appearance, Valdis doesn't mention it. Instead, she tips her head, her amused expression taking on a sharper edge. She realizes she could choose to ignore Rutile, but it seems they have severely misunderstood her meaning.

"I only meant that if you cared to talk, why not make it constructive?" she replied, "But if you are more interested in the weather than the visions and the planes, then by all means, let's talk about the weather and how it might make a gem melt."

There's nothing smug about her smile or demeanor, no point in escalating already less than ideal relationships.

[rutility]

There may be nothing overtly smug, but the damage is already done. Civility will be all Valdis is likely to expect from this encounter. Rutile stops and turns back to Valdis, their arms crossing over their chest and their weight shifting to one leg. The effect is one of hubris, but also of casuality.

“I wouldn’t dismiss the weather so quickly,” they point out, “for meteorological changes may be one sign among many of nefarious activity. Where I come from, a sunny day is the most dangerous of them all.

“That said, you are right. I have more interesting things to care about than the rain. How goes your investigation into the Planes?”

The question is born of true interest: their personalities may clash, but at heart, Rutile and Valdis are asking similar questions. The fastest way to an investigator’s heart is to ask them about their work; perhaps this will bridge the gap.

[redlightgreenlight]

In response to Rutile's stance, Valdis sets her book aside and crossed one leg over the other, leaning against the wall, completely relaxed. The comment about sunny days being dangerous was worth noting, but in light of the question they asked, Valdis felt it best to move on.

"About as well as it can when I'm avoiding the aspect of the Dreaming," she replied, "It's a volatile plane, more dangerous than the Death Plane if I'm honest, because its power may be limitless if someone figures out how to harness it."

Imagination knew no boundaries.

"My expertise lies more with the Death Plane. Though experimentation with that is limited due to the...nature of the magic involved. It might be safer to focus on the Dreaming, but as one who cannot dream, it is difficult to try to manipulate the flow of it."

[rutility]

Rutile ponders that a minute, tapping a toe on the wooden floor. The echo is that of pebbles clinking against each other, a curious noise from someone who appears mostly human. “I had an interesting conversation the other day,” they begin, “with someone about death and dreaming in their world. The implication was that where they are from, there is little difference between the two: the land of dreams is also the land one returns to upon death.”

Obviously, facts cannot be extrapolated from one realm to another. Rutile understands this well. However...

“While it certainly doesn’t work the same way here,” they go on, “it seems possible to me that the connection between the two planes might be what’s truly interesting. Where do the Dreaming’s capabilities intersect with Death’s? Where do they not? You would get around experimenting with Death, or dealing with the complexities of Dreaming, while studying them both.”

They shrug. It is tempting to offer to assist Valdis with this process for the sake of science - they are set to leave for the barrier in a matter of days - but they are still limiting the number of people who know of the quest. Bad enough they’d felt the need to tell Padparadscha. They hardly wanted someone even more prone to following along.

“Perhaps it is an ill founded idea,” they finish, “but it is an idea just the same.”

[redlightgreenlight]

"Who did you talk to?" she asked. The idea was an interesting one, even if the Death Plane here seemed more akin to nightmares. She sighed for a moment.

"The Dreaming is less connected to the Death Plane than it is the Life Plane," Valdis pointed out, "Dreaming and Life merged hundreds off years ago, and then the veil between them and the Death Place began to break down. Looking at the world now, there is a sort of...conflict between Life and Death that didn't exist before."

There was nothing wrong with studying the interactions between all three planes, it was simply so complex and so far away from her expertise that an attempt would likely end in failure. Rutile's shrug catches her attention perhaps more than it should, and she wonders if the brief sense of...temptation and light guilt is anything to comment on. Such emotions could mean anything and she didn't know them well enough to guess.

"I wouldn't say it is ill-founded," she continued, "Just...not possible on my own and I know of very few Dreamfolk who will understand the position I'm in and still possess the knowledge to help with such experimentation and research."

[rutility]

"A person called Kit Gandir," Rutile says. "I would recommend speaking to Kit if you want to know more. We didn't get the chance to have a meaningful conversation about it; the comment was offhand."

"... conflict between Life and Death that didn't exist before."

"Correct me if I am wrong," they go on, after pondering Valdis's words for a time, "but it sounds to me as though it is the barriers themselves that are the problem. This talk of merging and all that. And with the sudden influx of Dreamfolk last month... "

They pause, thinking about it, but each possibility they consider holds too many loose ends to relinquish any theories. They simply don't have the background they need to make conjectures. As a debilitating sense of helplessness overcomes them, Rutile scowls, quashing the emotion down and letting frustration rule in its place. "These are truly difficult questions," they admit. "It sounds to me as though there are no Dreamfolk better suited to this than you."

(Privately, Rutile thinks Valdis may benefit from reaching out - but Rutile cannot ask of her what they would be capable of themselves.)

[redlightgreenlight]

"I know Kit," Valdis commented, glancing at her book, "And they are difficult, but maybe I'm just not asking the right questions."

Her gaze moved back to Rutile, wondering over the frustration and brief helplessness that she felt from them. It passed too quickly to discern any meaning, but she understood the frustration. Valdis' mouth quirked in a short smile at their evaluation of her knowledge, but her knowledge wasn't enough here.

"Life and Death have a sort of harmony on my world." Mostly. "For instance, the agent of Death is also technically a creature of light, not darkness. It seems different here...maybe I just need someone who doesn't know as much to help focus the questions."

The clash between barriers was worthy of note, as was the sensation of Death aboard the Narrakra. She suspected that the strength of the plane in that location had something to do with her visions.

[rutility]

Alright, so Valdis knew Kit. Odd, then, that his knowledge of the Fade hadn't come up in their conversations. Surely his knowledge would have been of use to her, unless...

Ah. They must not be close. (That suggests good things about Kit's relationship with Rutile, at least, which is rather gratifying.)

"Agent of Death?" Rutile asks, their brow furrowing. "You'll have to elaborate on that, as well as on the notion of them being attached to light and darkness. There is no equivalent where I come from."

It's a philosophical quandary whether shattering counts as death, and the conclusions are different for every gem; Rutile's feelings on the issue are rather complicated. Regardless, light and darkness seem to have no association with life or death either way.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis arches a brow, considering how death might be so confusing. But then again, Rutile was not organic, perhaps 'death' doesn't apply in the same manner. She hums a moment, trying to decide how best to explain.

"I suppose it's a more complicated matter for someone like you," she replied, "In all things there is a scale between 'good' and 'evil'. 'Good' is often associated with light, and 'evil' with darkness. Many beings on my world consider death an evil thing, but the one who brings death to the living is a creature of Light, not Darkness."

She shrugged, "The Planes are complex as well. On my world we have three planes, Life, Death and Soul, and three realms, Heaven, Hell and Earth. Heaven is often considered a place of Life and Light, while Hell is considered a place of death and darkness. Humans do not seem to understand how oversimplified their views are."

[rutility]

Oh, Valdis, you don't want to know the first thing about gems and death.

Rutile listens to her exposition with rapt attention, their expression carefully neutral. "I cannot imagine what human views must be," they say when she finishes, "if that is complex. Gems, ah... well. It suffices to say that it simply doesn't make sense to speak of death for us.

"But you didn't speak of this agent of death. Given the similarities between your world and the Dreaming, is it possible some equivalent exists here? Although, it seems to me that as I learn more of the Planes, there are similarities with all human cultures..."

They trail off, tapping their chin with a tiny clink-clink-clink of their fingers that is only more white noise against the pattering of rain. Interesting, that much of the Lustrous's knowledge and literature comes from humans - it was from a human book that Rutile learned so much mineralogy - but that their culture fell through the cracks, so to speak.

"Ah, and we're back where we started," they muse. "So many equivalencies, and so little else, and nothing consistent enough to make conjectures about."

[redlightgreenlight]

"That was the simplified version," she replied, "But yes, you do not seem to live the same way most here do."

Devin was technically dead, but he was also alive in a strange way. He could die, so she suspected that Rutile also had a sort of 'death', even if not the same way mortals did. Valdis let them think, trying to figure out a way to explain the Angel of Death to them.

"Despite my general inability to dream, I have found that the Plane itself isn't consistent, which is in line with what I have heard of dreams."

She picked up her book, but didn't open it again, opting to turn her vision on Rutile. The strange gem did have a soul, it glowed brightly, evenly, which meant that there was more to the life they possessed. Not that it came as a surprise.

"But you asked about the Agent of Death," she continued, "On my world, he is known as Abaddon. His task is to escort the souls of those who have passed into Heaven, or into Hell. The Soul is what gives life. It...is an energy, but also an identity. It is the true essence of a person and seems to be the catalyst for dreaming."