Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Apr 25, 2016 1:33:14 GMT
Pooling the magic into the fingertips of his center three fingers, he touched them to Sayvahn’s forehead so that the magic could arc across. The spell was meant to sooth his mind and relax the parts of it troubling him so excessively. How well it worked would depend on how easily the feline accepted the help offered by the spell. At the very least, it should help him for five minutes. At most, it could last a day or so.
Once the spell began its affects, then Lasair spoke up anew. “Let me review the facts for a moment. Corey has attacked both you and Mala, which ended with a stab wound in your gut. Then he went to join the royal guard. Now he’s trying to find you, and possibly me, because of various feelings lingering inside him. Correct me if any of that is wrong, but it sounds to me like the problem lies in Corey, not you. Are you sure you don’t want him to be caused any pain?”
Warmth pooled and seeped into Sayvahn’s forehead as Lasair’s fingers crossed the feline’s skin, making him sigh. How gentle they were, how soothing, how comforting. The turmoil he felt, the tremors, they halted— caught in mid freeze as his body tried to relax, to accept the comfort. It helped, if just a little, but the pain, it wasn’t something so easily masked, so easily taken away. Yet Sayvahn smiled gently, looking to his fox, at how kind he was. It was almost painful, this kindness. It didn’t mean anything other than a duty performed by a guild leader. But still, the redhead’s words clung to him, ever so slightly, at the idea, at the mention that the firefox had cared for him, if just a little, at least enough to make him retreat to such a stupor. The barber had to resist taking the man’s hand, to prevent the warmth from leaving him, and letting th emotions he wanted, no, he needed to convey slip out.
But any inner peace drifted as Lasair spoke. Lowering his eyes, Savyahn stared at the ground, running through the words one by one. “He didn’t attack me. He attacked Mala and I intercepted the blade.” And later, he kissed me. But for some reason, Sayvahn didn’t want to reveal that information. At least, not yet. “I don’t want him to be caused any pain, Lasair. None. His actions have been…. misguided, but that is because of my negligence. He shouldn’t be blamed for my faults.” For there were so many, and if anything, MI would just be dragged into this mess, into his web of faults. Sayvahn couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t risk Lasair, Fawna, the twins and the others from getting hurt. “He wants me.” Words were vague, were meant to be vague. “And I’m afraid that will lead him to MI, and ultimately, you.”
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 5:02:39 GMT
The corner of Lasair’s lips tilted upwards upon seeing relaxation cover Sayvahn’s face. It reminded him of the past, of wanting to spread smiles wherever he traveled.
Then the feeling was greedily eaten by the darkness within him; the smile, gone again. “Okay. Only attacked Mala, you got injured jumping between them. If you don’t want him physically harmed, that takes a few options off the table.” Lasair’s eyes drifted to the side as his mind raked through other options. One stuck out among the rest, but he was reluctant to share it. However that reluctance came from things the other couldn’t know.
“What if we altered his memory? Did it in such a way where he would be able to move on from you and focus on his new job. People in the EIRAL do make a good living, so if we didn’t interfere with that, the only thing that could hurt him is the war.”
The incident seemed trivial upon the anderswelter’s tongue. It should have brought comfort— the idea that Lasair was as calm as he was. Yet, the ache inside Sayvahn lingered— churning and weaving, burying deeper into his stomach. After all, this was just another mission, another trial, another dilemma in Lasair’s plans. No special meaning, no favoritism should be derived from it. Yet, the feline yearned for something, anything that could fill the pit that deceit’s magic had unearthed. And apparently, it was this same magic that would bury him again.
“Memory alteration?” The barber parroted, freezing. Would that really be the best option? It did sound like a good premise, but there was no guarantee. What if Corey remembered, like Sayvahn had? What if certain feelings, certains desires, could not be quenched by magic? Corey would be happier in Eiral. Would be safer from his home life. Yet the war— Sayvahn hadn’t even considered, hadn’t even thought of what might befall the boy if he went onto the battlefield.
Leaning back against the wall, Sayvahn folded his arms, eyes, lowered as he bit his lip, thoughts, curving their way in his mind. “I—I don’t know. I… do you think… that is the best idea?” Sayvahn asked, glancing up at Lasair, weariness, tugging at his features. This ordeal, this whole thing, had taken too much out of him, and even if Lasair’s magic had resolved some of it, the pain, the weigh of it all, continued to bear down on Sayvahn’s shoulders.
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 5:36:06 GMT
“Given your requests, yes. I do believe it would be the best option. And given the nature of this situation, I think it might even be worthwhile to employ a type of magic stronger than most. I’ve been researching ways to strengthen traditional spells, and well, this would be a good time to put that research to use. Do you know deceit magic? It would be the base for the spell.” He turned and fished his book out of a desk drawer, this one a handwritten copy he had received from Edelweiss. Flipping it to one of the newer pages, he began skimming over the data he was looking for. “If you know other skills from the Internal branch of magic, those would help in practicing the execution of it. Skills from the same branch tend to be cast the same way.”
His eyes honed in on the pages while behind them, his mind began calculating. This could work, it would take some arranging, but it would work. They just had to build a believable enough story to put over Corey’s mind. The magic would make sure it took hold and grew from there.
The chasm inside Sayvahn widened. “I-I suppose you are right.” But being right didn’t make the pain recede. And research? Sayvahn wondered if this is what Edelweiss and Lasair had been working on. The feline almost wanted to ask, is this what you have been doing? Is this where your heart has always lied? But that idea, that concept made the pain, the turmoil inside Sayvahn, grow. No, he would keep his knowledge to himself, keep everything to himself. The fox bent forward as he dug for the book, for his secret tome. Sayvahn watched from over the brim of his glasses, knowing the other was lost in his studies, yet, part of the barber hoped the other could see, could know how torn Sayvahn was.
How could the blond do such a thing to Corey? To erase part of his memory— a part of his life that Sayvahn knew had been a blessing for the other. The boy had even admitted at one point “I’m pretty sure without you, I would have become a mess.” But look at what he has become, Damien cooed. The onslaught, the damage, had already been done. However, to erase all the good times that they had together, all the good memories, even with the bad—could Sayvahn even do it? Could he risk tearing that all away, and leaving behind whatever was left? Sayhvan didn’t know what to say, yet words filtered from his tongue.“But… I don’t even know how to cast Deceit.”
And did he even want to? The spell that had caused the feline so much trouble, so much anguish, that now crippled him? That rendered nights meaningless, drenched in sweat and red tugging at his dreams? But maybe, a spell that had caused such pain to Sayvahn could relieve Corey, could make up for everything that Sayvahn had done to him. A parting gift, a final farewell, an apology. It could be all of these, and more. Although, it could also be the opposite as well. Sayvahn burrowed his claws into his arm. "And... It...it would take time to learn it, wouldn't it?"
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 6:30:38 GMT
Lasair looked up, catching the pained tone hiding behind Sayvahn’s words. The concept of manipulating memories seemed to trouble him. That realization only made Lasair’s own guilt build further. “Sayvahn, we don’t have to do it this way if you don’t want to. It sounds like the best idea from my point of view, but if you want to do something else, we can keep thinking. I’m willing to try anything if it means having you stay here.” He wanted to add a ‘with me’ but the words caught in his mouth. No, those were dangerous things to say. He was supposed to be moving away from the other, not pulling him closer.
“And yes, it would take time to learn. But if you’d rather not, I could ask someone else to do it. I don’t recall who in the guild knows it, but I’m sure someone does.” And then there was the option of asking people outside the guild. But Lasair would rather not involve other if it could be avoided. “But if you want to learn, I could teach you personally.”
The fox had seen it—reluctance, his pain and Sayvahn bit his lip. “I… I don’t know. I mean…It would be painless, woulnd’t it?” The feline didn’t want to harm the boy. Not any more, not any more than he had done. And deceit was the best option— what other spell would prevent this madness from unrolling? A projection of Sayvahn dying to make the other believe he was gone? But that was the thing, wasn’t it? Sayvahn wasn’t even sure if Corey wanted to kill him, and that, out of everything, scared the feline. “I… I appreciate the sentiment, but I think you are right.” Memory alteration was the best option, even if it hadn’t been for Sayvahn. The blonde couldn’t hide from his own demons, but maybe he could hide them from Corey.
But the “stay here” comment lingered somewhat. Guild obligations, as always, Sayvahn tried to laugh, to reason, for there was no point in expecting more. Not when there was Edelweiss in the young fox’s life. But the laugh came out as a weak smile instead. “And… I don’t want anyone else to get involved, Lasair— they shouldn’t have to pay for my mistakes, or at least they shouldn’t have to.” Stepping closer, the feline’s grasp loosened on his arm as he continued, eyes wandering to meet Lasair’s blue pools. “I… I’m sorry that I have to drag you into my personal problems— that my personal problems have to pose a possible threat to the guild…” For that is what you are worried about isn’t it? Sayvahn almost wanted to say, but his voice, it was trapped in his throat, better, the feline had to reason. There was no use in moping, in relishing in a defeat, a loss love already made clear. “…but… I ask you to help me, just a little bit more, Lasair. At least, until this mess with Corey is resolved.” Eyes drifted to the side, to a corner where shadows seem to dance, producing Damien’s skinned corpse, with that sickening smile. “The cycle continues, the cycle continues.” He chimed, and Sayvahn, he clenched his fists, only to loosen them as eyes lowered to the ground, back, relaxing in defeat. The cycle. It always continues. But maybe, he could alter it somewhat.
“Please, help me, Lasair. Teach me deceit… I…. I want to be the one to cast it.” The blond whispered, raising his head, the cold, biting at his skin, as if to unless the chill burrowing inside.
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 7:07:57 GMT
Sayvahn didn’t bother hiding his pain away now, not after Lasair had caught a glimpse of it peaking out from behind his mask. And that pain resonated with Lasair’s own. He understood it in a way that the other probably didn’t realize. Probably couldn’t realize.
He pulled the feline into a hug, holding him there for a few moments and speaking gently now. “Thank you for letting me help. Even if you’re just asking me as a guild leader, it’s still my pleasure to provide assistance. And one other thing, I want you to know that you won’t be alone in this. We’ll be casting it together.” He waited a minute or so to let that sink in
Retracting from the other then, he took a small step back and took a bow, the smile pulling at his lips again. “As I used to say, Lasair Landevier Lupen is ever at your service. Now, shall we start the lessons now?” There was something about Sayvahn that just made it hard for Lasair to be anybody but his old self. The other man just kept pulling the past version up and out to play.
Arms coiled around him, pulling him into a light embrace. A held breath lingered in Sayvahn’s lungs, and his eyes, they widened as arms hovered, unsure of where to go, of what boundary to cross. The feline wanted to return the hug. Hungered to, yet, hands remained, floating above Lasair’s back, too timid to touch— and then, it was too late. The fox pulled away.
But his words, they remained. And then, they pulsated, Sayvahn’s eyes widening as a glimmer, as a fragment, of the old Lasair— of the mask, of the fox’s confidence, slipped through, the bow, the flourish, all so sudden that Sayvahn had to release his breath to take in more air to hold, the shadows, seeming to dissipate as Sayvahn stared, startled, at the other. “Uh, yes. Let’s.” The blonde coughed, pushing his glasses up somewhat as heat lingered on his cheeks. Was he seriously blushing? Hopefully the candlelight, the everything, could conceal the truth on his cheeks, and even more so, the red that seemed to race in his heart. “W-where should we begin?”
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 7:42:05 GMT
Time skip to the present day, specifically after Sayvahn has visited the skills merchant. “Morning Sayvahn. Do you want to practice again today, or do you think you’re ready to go searching for him?” Sayavhn had struggled with learning the spell for quite some time, but he picked it up after a while. He had mastered the first rank about a week ago and after spending a day or two of explaining how to combine magical auras, Lasair believed he was ready. And yet, the past few days when he asked Sayvahn this question, the feline had elected to practice more. Hopefully this would be the day he chose otherwise, but if not, Lasair had no problems showing him how to work the magic in another way. The feline’s company was welcomed, it soothed him in a way that was hard to explain. Despite having to be on guard from any facial closeness.
Open, close, open, close. Flexing his hand, the feline pushed the magic from his veins into the tip of his fingers, only to draw it back. Magic. This lifeblood that traveled through his veins promised a possible end to hiding. A possible end to lurking in MI, too timid— too cowardly, because that was what this was. The blond was unwilling to face Corey. But now— maybe he could. And at last, put a stop to it all. Except, the very idea still made his hand tremble. What if he messed up? What if something went wrong? What if, maybe, Sayvahn didn’t want to wipe Corey’s mind? Maybe, the feline wanted to wipe his own.
Clenching his hand, the knuckles whitened, that lifeblood, returning back to his heart. Everything, it seemed, went down to his heart. Tilting his head, Sayvahn glanced at the man, a weak smile, forming on his lips. “I… I think I’m going to be as ready as I ever will be.” The older man muttered, releasing his grasp.
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 8:11:59 GMT
The general ander nodded, turning towards the main entrance as opposed to the training room. “Do you want me to review the plan for you? The new memories we’re going to give him? We need to be on the exact same page about it for this to work.” He began walking towards the front doors, but he didn’t move particularly quickly. There was no rush for this, not unless the other wanted there to be.
Following the other, the feline nodded. “Yes. That would probably be for the best.” Sayvahn couldn’t hide, nor did he plan on hiding, the concern in his voice, the worry that seemed to press and pull at his innards, asking for some sort of relief to be made. And it would be, when this was all done. But getting to that point, getting to that instance of peace, was going to be painful. Sayvahn wouldn’t deny that— and so the older man approached the fox, head tilted somewhat. For some reason, the idea of going outside bothered the feline— not for the light that would illuminate the two of them, as the halls were quite dark in the solace of separation. But instead, the idea, the concept of what he was going to do, of what the blond was going to need to do. And for some reason, it terrified him.
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 4, 2016 8:39:51 GMT
“Okay, first we need to find Corey. That’s going to be the hard part, but he should be out and about somewhere if he’s still searching for you. Then we have to get him alone if he’s not already and I’ll put him to sleep. Once he’s out, we sit down and cast the combined deceit on him. We can’t quite delete old memories, but we can change them. So we’re going to change the way he thinks about you, remembers you. You’re the kind person who took him in and nurtured him, that is until the Battle of Castamere took you away. We’re going to blur your face some as well, so that if he sees you he won’t immediately recognize you and we’re going to end it all with strong feelings of hatred towards Sveden. He’ll be devoted to the EIRAL for life after this.” After the words drifted away, he glanced towards the other, trying to gauge how his personality was at this moment. Once they got going, there wouldn’t be anymore chances to turn back.
"All you need is love." -John Lennon
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