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 Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:34 am
 Vah nodded,“Oh yeah. That’s her alright. Fact, she’s not supposed to be selling side potions to anyone, but she doesn’t follow rules and she’s too big of an asset to the market around here to fire her so…” So she always did what she wanted to do. She blackmailed people who had debts to her (for reasons neither the “victim” nor she would ever disclose) into giving her free materials. Vah’s mother (who was constantly busily absent from his life [though Vah argues that it’s for good reason]) often noted during dinners (when she did make it back home for dinner in time) that sometimes she regrets asking Nino to babysit Vah for her because she’s starting to rub off on the lad. Vah ignored those comments. He wasn’t manipulative…though…he did have a flare for making up the weirdest and more difficult hexes…He fancied “fancy magic” like most of the fake magicians had such as making mini sparkling spiral pillars or popping bubbles that had noise inside…She was also the one who taught Vah how to control his magic and not let it go berserk. There was no need for an earthquake or flood in the middle of a great city like Masrin afterall. He grinned and said, ”She talks fondly of a lot of people including many of the rank 4s. She’s mentioned you from time to time as her best beauty potion customer.” Like Vah, she could easily rise to rank 4 if it wasn’t for all the attention she would grab from it. It’s one thing for a commoner to blackmail and have the company turn a blind eye, it’s another thing for a famous Rank 4 working in the company blackmailing people. It just wouldn’t work out. Like gambling, she seemed to have some sort of addiction to making sure that people carried their debts to their graves or better yet, everyone gave her free things until the day she died.
Vah turned to the other man and stuck a tongue out in semi-disgust. He knew that it was a joke and of course it was. Least you were a beast no proper man in all of his rights to his sanity would ever touch a lizard tongue without a gloved hand and definitely would not be placing it in their mouths. The local lizards were not like the other random lizards. They secreted a special acid that was oh so perfect for flare typed potions. He remembered the one man who touched a DRIED and long dead lizard’s tongue from the stores and ended up with a rotting hand. Another was a child of a mage who, like any busy body mother, wandered away in less than a second behind Rosia’s stairway curtain, and ended up burning his hand as well. There’s a sign to keep “uninformed and young children away” from the stairway secret curtain now. It was enough of a disclaimer to get the shop out of anymore lawsuits. He smirked at the other and asked, ”And? Well? Did it burn? Or did your tongue rot and fall out of its cavern?” Hopefully this one didn’t touch anything he wasn’t supposed to either. A nice warrior was hard to come by and he certainly didn’t wish the poor guy any harm. Vah would bet that Neon was one of those that welcomly ate cow’s tongue or duck’s tongue. It gave him shivers but luckily his conversation was cut short as Kaila beamed blinding smile and hopped into the air flashing around her tricks and stopping all the people around them. He would’ve clapped if his hands weren’t particularly full of bags already, but he gave a laugh and said, ”Well I’ll say! Better than the nerds in the tower by a thricefold! We just toy with hexes and potions and charms all day. Maybe…I’ll teach you one of my newer hexes as a thanks!” He meant it as a joke, but if she took the offer, he had no problem fulfilling it. It was the least he could do for the kind fellows helping out. Though…he wouldn’t know how to thank Neon. Maybe a different hex, a helping hex? Most warriors seemed to abhor any “fast growth” hexes though. Pride and all. Kaila loved beauty, so it wouldn’t be hard to teach one of his charms that colored his hair!
By the time they arrived, it was well past a good hour and half since he’d left earlier that morning and as he entered the third floor main offices, Nino looked up from her beaker and lit up like a candle, not too bright but bright enough to see half a fake smile perpetually glued to her face."THE FOOD’S HERE!! Oh…?" ((I react to food the same way)) A more polite and slightly mischievous smile formed on her face,”Would you look at that? Warrior Neon and my favorite dear Kaila’s here. Helping out? I’ve got a few new potions for you too! Free of charge…for bringing me my food, She said added in, pushing passed Vah for the other bags. Vah himself set the bags on the main table (away from all the crazy potions everywhere) and turned to Neon as Nino kept Kaila busy. She bragged of her potions more than Kaila bragged of her status. She loved being called a nerd just as much as Kaila loved being called a rank 4. Vah smirked, “Well, that gives you about 30 minutes of a break. Thank you for helping out. I’d be running a second run back and forth if it wasn’t for you!”
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:56 pm
ooo"Well, I won't add fuel to the fire if you won't, okay?" Kaila replied with a chuckle as the trio made their way down the streets to the alchemy tower. "And keep it low about the potions. People might think I need them!" Her voice raised at the end but not enough to draw attention. She emphasized her statement with a hair flip over her shoulder, though with her frizzy afro it merely bounced. It bounced beautifully, but it was hardly a flip.
ooo "Yeah. Can't you tell? This is a prosthetic tongue. It's actually really hard to talk with it." Neon said flawlessly. He stuck his own tongue out at Vah to show just how rotten it was before Kaila came back. After Kaila's attention was turned from the children 'popping' the bubbles, she rounded on Vah's offered somewhat worriedly. "Ah! Totally!" The speed with which Kaila agreed and rushed passed the topic of Vah showing her a spell may have seemed suspicious, but she hoped not. It wasn't long before she was urging the two 'slowpokes' to hurry up. Easy for her to say, at this point she wasn't carrying any bags at all. Neon hurried along regardless.
ooo As soon as they entered the shop, Kaila rushed over to Nino and gave her the usual friendly greeting as Neon set his bags down. "Oh, Nino! You shouldn't have! Don't think that means I don't accept, though!" Kaila joked, following Nino to the potions. Neon was always surprised at how many people Kaila knew. It seemed going to those events or . . . anywhere in general had it's perks. If you saw knowing a ton of people as a benefit. Neon wasn't sure he did. It always unsettled him that people still knew who he was. He really hadn't had his eye on fame when he rose through the ranks so quickly and by reaching the impasse that he had, he felt like he let the people down. But, again, that wasn't what he was in it for, either. So, most of all, he felt like he let himself down. And Mantho. But, he shook those thoughts off for now, putting on the best smile he could. "Good. I could use one. And no problem, dude. This morning's really helped me clear my head. So, I should be thanking you." he spoke, lifting his arm behind his head to scratch an itch between his shoulder blades. His shirt had the sleeves torn off for easy movement during battle, he had pretty much left straight from the practice fields and on a day like today when the heat was definitely in full swing, it didn't produce a pleasant smell. He wasn't reeking, but he didn't smell like a field of daisies, either. With his hairy pit right next to his face, he suffered the full brunt of it. He dropped his arm immediately. "Do you have any place I could ... freshen up? He needed to use the restroom anyways. He figured then they could find a spot to slow down and chill for a while. Perhaps in a cooler area.
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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:08 pm
Redswordomega Vah took the moment that his boss was being so busy with a shouted excuse that he was “tending to guests” which…if you think about it…If Kaila buying personal potions from Nino is considered “service” than right now, him chatting with Neon would be also “tending to guests.” So he shrugged at the thought. Everyone around began to dig in to their meals and he glanced around to find whoever was nibbling on some bloody steak, but he saw none and his suspicion rang true that Nino was being the piece of s**t she always was and was the one who ordered the largest meal. It wasn’t even because she was particularly hungry, she just liked being the one to dish out the largest total price tags on her punishment. If he didn’t know better, he’d say Nino was an expert sadist of some sort.
He watched as Neon stretched around and while nobody was smelling particularly fruity or fancy this morning, and definitely not him or Neon, the only two who did handle the bags to the end, Neon was far cry worse than Vah, but not so much that the smell bothered him. Once you get through potions of every kind, you could eat dog s**t and not be fazed. He recalled that one potion did have… ”Freshen up…oh yeah. We do. It’s for idiots like me and Mickey who tend to sleep on our jobs and wake up in the morning,” he joked. The third floor was connected to a small resting area that was run by spirits. Little floating orbs governed the baths like they own the place. Baths were no new news to the warrior guilds, but for places that had less exercise less intense workouts, a bath was something unheard of to the older generations. Some of the ladies preferred the bathhouses that were on every third floor over perfume charms. There was a shower room at the ends of each floor, but only every third floor had a bath house with showers, hot tubs…curtesy of a nagging Nino. It was also a place that he enjoyed some down time with in front of mirrors as he played with hair colors and styles as well as eye colors. He’d sometimes excuse himself for a bathroom break to return with a different hair color. Many had done double takes early on, but it hardly fazed floor 3 staff members anymore. Sometimes, they were subtle, changing whenever he stepped into the light of a window and you’d have to rub your eyes to make sure you didn’t see something weird.
”The bath houses here are new…it wasn’t something built in the mages guild years ago where most of the mages preferred light and easy motions to magic. They would come back from requests, no sweat and no more tired than when they had left if you didn’t count mental exhaustion from using the magic…but now…the younger generations seemed to have gotten crafty and forge weapons would of elements and they’ve gotten to link the mages and warriors guild…” he explained as they walked. Some of the gastly looking spirits seemed to glare as they floated around while others just lazed pretending to be a torch when…there were already some decent midafternoon lighting around. Spirits were akin to dogs and birds to many of the guild members here. They were playful, could be dumb, could be sharp as a pin p***k…Most never bothered to play with any in the halls (they were playing cute but are quite aggressive…like sirens.
The two stopped in front of a larger room which was, funny enough, pretty empty today. It was past lunch and most guild members in this building were alchemists. They hardly needed baths. It wasn’t something they just couldn’t wait until home for. Yet, living in a small apartment, he didn’t have the luxury of a hot tub, so on his down time, he enjoyed being here.”There ya go! A nice little bath house. That should keep you happy and jolly for a moment or three. There's a shower inside and multiple kinds of soaps and shampoos. They even have a change of clothes in several sizes up to a giant's size!”Vah grinned. Much of the time, it was easier to just provide clothes for people in the alchemy tower than have the go home time and time to grab new ones. After all several accidents have come to this tower. Burns, acid spills, hair on fire, accidental changing color of face or clothes...you name it. It doesn't get worse than the guy who turned into a cat for a day and half. "Think I'll stick around too,"By the mirrors "Shout if you need me. Nino will count this as tending to a guest,"He smirked before bounding away to the changing room. He mumbled a few chants here and there testing out random colors on his hair only to grumble about the ugly lighting and restart over and over until he was left with a shade of light blue under a blacker top.
Nino bounced around the back room, her energy was starting to match up with Kaila’s. She promptly shut the main door as soon as Kaila stepped in and pulled a small curtain revealing the potions stacked throughout the walls. They were all tested and ready for use, some even sparkling in the dim lighting almost as if a torch was right behind the bottles themselves. Others looked like a galaxy and some were deep candy red or suspiciously black. Nino picked up a potion and swirled the pink mixture until it turned purple. When he stopped spinning the liquid inside for a good 20 seconds, it reverted back to pink. She held another in her hand that was almost green but gave a flowery orange scent. Handing both to Kaila she said,”I’ll charge ya price of one for two bottles, curtesy for helping out my assistant with the bags. In fact, think of it as buy one and get the other free. The pink one you swirl until it’s deep purple and it’s great for styling hair to be a straight as possible. The green one is a perfume but, it also works like a charm for moisturizing!” She danced around before placing the bottles in the other’s hand, making sure that the tags facing Kaila were readable with the price numbers of 10100 gold. She looked towards the door and then asked, ”So what do you think of Vah? Only two meetings ago, the whole magery council was in an uproar about Vah’s refusal to be a ranked 4…You finally get to meet him.”It wasn’t like she expected Kaila to particularly care. There were plenty of strong people out there, but most had no problem accepting a ranked 4 promotion without a second of hesitation. Vah straight out refused.
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:35 pm
ooo "Fantastic." Neon responded simply to Vah's comment about their bathrooms. His focus was on getting to a wash bin and freshening himself up as quickly as possible. Kaila liked to pick on him and say she was going to have to wash him herself, which would make Neon a tad bit more than uncomfortable, though the two had seen each other naked on multiple occasions. It was the simple fact that Neon wasn't keen on the thought of being washed like a child. He had quashed his aversion to being naked around others long ago. He had to in order to be able to shower at the training grounds every day. Or at least Neon liked to think he had completely quashed it. It truly did not bother him as much as it would others, but certain situations could strangely dredge up the modesty in him.
ooo As they walked, it became more and more evident that this wasn't a simple restroom that Vah was leading him to and it became more obvious that he was going to actually be able to wash off more thoroughly. Which, he appreciated, but as he wasn't expecting this, it had him a bit off tilt. He decided to gloss over the misunderstanding and continue on. There was something that clicked in his head as the spirits floated by Neon only partly unnoticed. The part of him that did notice was only somewhat offset. "I've ... noticed some of the younger generations wielding such weapons. I .... There ... There was a sword ... from Mantho that these new weapons remind me of. "The Sword that Guides the Light" ... I would ... I would give anything to wield that sword." the amount of passion and resolve in Neon's voice strengthened. It quivered with a sadness and rage that he simply couldn't contained before he put on the mask of cold stone that always followed an emotional slip with the man. He was an insurmountable wall, or at least he thought of himself as such. He couldn't afford to let bricks slip. Not with what he had laid before him. "Sincerest apologies are due. I've barely met you and you do not deserve to be burdened with a stranger's troubles." Neon spoke with an empty laugh. He looked into the bath house abashed at his actions. "Thank you for you hospitality." he said formally before beginning to enter and pulling off his shirt well before he was hidden by turning a corner.
ooo He exited the shower a while later, perhaps with the knuckles on his hands looking a bit more roughed up that when he had entered and his eyes redder as well, but other than those two facts, his face was of cold stone as before, even with him garbed in only a towel wrapped around his waist. He entered the changing room and chose a storage locker at random once he figured out which contained clothes in his size. Upon picking out a full outfit, he dropped the towel without a second thought and began getting changed into the darker outfit than he had been wearing prior. A shirt fit for one of higher class, if not quite up to par for nobility, it was a quality shirt. The shirt had blue daggers stitched around the loose collar. Plain black trousers had tall boots pulled over them as Neon finished ringing his hair dry as much as he could. He would have to do his best to brush it out later, because there was not way he was going to wear his wet hair down like this. He tied it up in a disorderly bun at the back of his head that still seemed to keep a semblance of order despite it's haphazard assembly. He then returned to Vah's side with that stony expression and tried to manage a smirk. He barely did. "I think I rather like these clothes. I'll have to pay for them. I insist. I don't do nearly enough shopping according to Kaila ... I'll have to get them tailored a little, but they seem a fine fit already." he said, showing off the outfit in 360.
oooKaila had to restrain herself from asking for ALL the potions. "Girl! You know I couldn't possibly take this type of a deal from you. I insist you let me pay in full." Kaila attempted to keep a straight face for as long as possible before she doubled over laughing. "I will take whatever you throw at me and these are very pretty little gems, if I do say so myself!" She looked at the potions intensely and wafted fumes from the green potion to her nose, obviously enjoying the scent she was taking in. "I bet Neon will like this one." She spoke to herself softly with that silly school girl smile on her face that she got sometimes. "Vah?" It was then that the pieces snapped together, entirely with Nino's help. Kaila was ashamed. She was usually quicker on the uptake than this. She was slipping! "Oh. My. Jewels and trinkets. I can't believe I didn't ... So that's him? He's much ... different than I thought he would be. More ... bubbly? I expected someone much rougher around the edges." Kaila rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Thinking of how she could turn this to her advantage, no doubt. Kaila was definitely friendly, but she also was always looking for ways to put herself ahead of the game to make up for her ... short comings. "Maybe I should try and convince him to raise rank? I mean ... I can be very persuasive. Neon can really dig his heels in sometimes." Kaila mused with a mischievous smile on her face.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 5:48 pm
Vah pulled himself away from the mirror as soon as he heard the main door to the shower rooms open up. Looking slightly better than he seemed earlier and perhaps just a tad bit more pleased than before, Neon stepped out of the room with all the smaller shower rooms inside. Much of the clothes that were in the “laundry/changing” room where off of guild funds. There were a few sets that specifically came from the kindness of strangers, donated, but they were few. The guild often took only clothes from people who insisted that they were “extra extras” which meant clothes and other goods that were left over after these kind people’s visits to different charities in town, already. They were usually family members of the mages in the guild whom often came home in charred clothes or overall ruined clothing. It was simply better and more dignifying to walk down the streets and back home in a decent shirt and pants rather than tattered clothesware. Vah had once been one of those amateurs and he had had his own fair share of burned clothes. Some from potions and some from his days as a fighter/mercenary. Clothes were ultimately written off as a budgeted expense just so that people in the guild stopped demanding payment on their ruined clothes for “the work we do for you.” Sure it was foolish to wear your favorite shirt to work and sure you were supposed to wear uniform, but even uniform got burned. The guild figured it was just a small bit of coin that could please the potentially deadly workers from killing the 12 out of anger…petty reasons or not. Vah looked the other man up and down as he spun around once to show off the clothes. It was a plain set of clothes, mostly white with blue dagger designs and faux golden embroiders. It was a shirt loose enough to be comfortable in and tight enough to make sure no clothes touched hazardous potions. He gave a through look through and smiled, ”You look good! It’s not problem on payment…it’s a simple expense that the guild pays for. A set of clothes costs maybe a tenth of an ordinary potion considering our item prices.” he explained, his complement with meaning to it. Neon did look good in ordinary clothes. Maybe it was just the way he was raised, to see the warriors as the meat heads they were, but Vah preferred a man to don some presentable clothing once in a while that did not include all the mud stains of battle. Maybe fashion police Nino (who also seemed to be rubbed off of Kaila) may have, in turn, rubbed off on him, but Vah was picky about clothes others wore. Something about aesthetics.”Let’s head back? I bet Nino is just about done going through potions though she is no measure of a braggart less than you think. She could talk for hours really. Depends how much chatting they can do together!” he laughed, getting off the stool and tying his medium length hair into the messy hairstyle he had earlier (like the picture, but not as pretty since he ran out to work late). With a dramatic wave, he opened the door and let Neon walk out first. After all he might be a prince!
Nino swirled a few potions to keep them from sticking on the bottom of their jars. She smirked, ”Ohh? I know you! You’ll always swindle me right back at my own game! But this time, I’ll let it slide, courtesies for bringing my lunch to me. Not that I actually saw you personally hold it in.”She laughed, letting out a roar. Yet still, associates discount maybe? She placed the bottles back down and then wrinkled her nose,”Oh…..well it’s not like he needs convincing or anything. He really doesn’t want to do something and he’ll be pretty stubborn about it. Not that I want him to be a rank 4 or anything, but it’s what he wants no?”Not to mention she didn’t want to place her favorite apprentice in harm’s way. Smirking again, mischievously grinning a set of pearls matching Kaila’s she said,”Oh but the poor boy!” she put an exaggerated sigh and hand to her forehead”He doesn’t like to work with most of the mage’s guild rank 4s. Oh who, just who will protect him in battle though??”
((it's short >< sorry!))
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 2:22 pm
ooo Taking a look again down at his outfit, Neon wasn't sure whether to be grateful that Vah wasn't addressing his current mood or to get upset that he was glossing over it so casually. Perhaps he was just hiding it well. Either way, he was acting much like Kaila in this regard. He adjusted his shirt and perked up his smile, though it didn't quite touch his eyes even though he was told he looked good. He was used to hearing much the same from Kaila and others about town when he actually decided to go out. His ears were numb to comments like those and he considered them obligatory, if only subconsciously. His brow furrowed as Vah gestured for him to go first. If Neon was a lesser man, he would have taken that as a challenge, but he was merely baffled at the moment. "If Kaila has anything to do with it, we'll be here for weeks. I don't know that Kaila has an off switch once you get her on a topic she's interested in." which was mostly herself, if Neon was being honest. Not that he found anything wrong with trying to progress in the world. And Neon knew more about her than anyone else, and he could see why she tried so hard. He exited first and then started progressing in the direction he thought they had come from. If he led the way too long, they might get lost, though.
ooo"Oh. I'm reading you loud and clear!" Kaila smiled back, honestly quite obviously not having understood at all. "I'll have to have a word with him as soon as he gets back! We'll put things in order proper like!" Kaila offered, proudly. She had an objective in mind, now.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:46 am
Vah watched as the other walked a good distance off the wrong direction, with a grin on his face, before he finally spoke up and called out pointing at the wrong direction. To most of the workers here, the floors were mostly self-explanatory with signs every here and there, but most outsiders thought the halls were either too dark or too maze like and often walked around the wrong areas getting lost along the way. The halls were built like such with the reasoning that mages weren't as physically strong as the warriors and needed some sort of defense against intruders. A little splash of illusion magic and confusion spells often id the trick at least until security caught up with the intruder. It was more of an entertainment spectacle now to mos of the mages. Being cooped up all day was particularly boring and bored people seemed to make good sadists.
"The place is a winding hallway, but most of the corners are fake or leads you right back to where you came from." Vah explained as he walked towards the other man, leading them back to the right hall. Most of the spirits have already gone on their ways or napping on top of torches. It was lunch time for most of the spirits and as horrible as it sounded, they often spent it in the dungeons "feasting" on the guilty. Vah grinned at the thought of Kaila. He'd hear about the woman from time to time because she was just so much like Nino. she'd come back from guild meetings that were designated for supervisors and ranked 4+ mages. She'd come back with a grin and chat all about her favorite customer...with a list of other favorite customers. Kaila was powerful in magic, from his assumption. He couldn't imagine how the sweet and kind Kaila feels when she saw the injuries she'd cause. Instead he turned the conversation back to, "So about that sword? I think I've read about it before. You're...really from Mantho? Prince no less?" Vah figured that without Kaila's joking around, it was a good time to chat about the more serious things.
Nino shrugged and went about sorting the potions and then heading back out to the office, "We'll make sure you are considerate to his feelings, but good luck!" she cheered on and opened her lunch. Smirking she looked towards the door. She supposed Vah was "slacking" again and had left the office. He'd weasel about how it was a legitimate reason, bu it was the perfect time to wander the halls and chat up a perfectly handsome man. "I recon they'll be back within the next five minutes," she grinned.
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 7:28 pm
ooo Neon turned around to face Vah as he corrected the direction in which he was going. "I'm bad with directions already and you guys make this place a changing maze? You could've told me sooner, you know." he pointed out with an exhale of amusement. He glanced about the halls, the spirits from before having clocked out and leaving the halls to feel much more empty than before. Neon felt like he should have been happier right now, for some reason, but his head felt like it was somewhere else, then his attention snapped back fully and his heart sank in his chest as slowed his walking and slumped against the wall to his side tapping his foot anxiously. He had brought up the sword, hadn't he? "Um ... yeah. Before ... you know. It's why I am who I am. And still, it's not enough. But, that's nothing I need to bother you about. We've just met. That matter is between me and the Demons that have overrun our home." The our had included Kaila and the sentiment that he didn't want to bother Vah was a half lie. He wanted to, but his morals couldn't bring him to.
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 4:21 pm
Nodding quietly, Vah felt a strange itch that he couldn't possibly seem to touch let alone scratch. At the top of his head came a shiver that bore through him and if it was not for the torches on the wall, dim as any castle's lighting during late afternoon, his shivers would be quite noticeable. It was a little too "hot" for shivers, so he wouldn't have had anything to write off a reason either, though he supposed he could just say that he'd once read the stories in the local news that Nino had clipped. Major disaster that left the entire city in ruins and most of the only survivors were women and children. The stories told would be scary enough as the older women gossipped now and then about demons. Both he and Nino knew about his bloodline and there were a handful of people who had the same blood in them; simply blood that was once tainted ages ago by demons, but something in him, in them, felt some sort of guilt that typed to the event that happened. It didn't matter if it happened a good decade or more ago, but the matter is always talked about and on the rare occasions that Vah joined Nino to the more minor meetings, he'd always encounter the lingering stench.
There were meetings all the time that he attended. He hardly attended the upper ranked meetings, but every employee in the building attends some sort of meeting. It could be a simple debriefing of the month's goals and budgeting or about the local news. Sometimes, the upper ranks wanted the populations' opinion on the fact and town meetings were held every day of that week. They were huge and mostly for the villagers. Supervisors ranked 3 and up held ones in their own offices to aid the population attendance. News flashes about the local bandits, monsters, scarcity of resources (both magical and agricultural) and so on, made it to those meetings. Occasionally there was more news about the advancement of the demonic tribes, but even then, it was still currently a time of peace. Yet, he couldn't shake that feeling that, even if he had nothing to do with it, he shared blood with these monsters literally from the depths of hell.
Thankfully, the halls seemed to shrink with an easy conversation or two and the two of them quickly reached the office. It seemed longer to the bathrooms, but perhaps a bit of talk and silence that followed just made things a little easier and swifter. Vah apologized for bringing the topic up with a small smile before opening the door to the two women already chatting away waiting for their return arrival. It was a strange sight to see, of course, as if there were suddenly TWO Ninos, but Vah kind of expected it. He gave a small stretch and returned to his seat where he finally took out his lunch from the bag and smirked. The sandwich was great warm and just as good cold and as he dug in he watched in amusement as Nino and Kaila chatted away, somewhat looking towards him every now and then, "What??"
"Well, our lovely beauty here has a bit of a question for you. I'm not involved in this by the way," she added in with a half glance half glare at the other, "so you can find me over there with my steak and the rest of my lunch as Rank 4 Kaila fulfils her job that the board has requested time and time again." She gave a nod at the pressure and walked away with Vah's confusion clear as day.
(((((I won't be able to reply until I get back from my family vacation around the 20th! I can still see your reply, but it's a huge hassle to type on my phone :/ I will still reply to PMs though!)))))
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:55 pm
ooo Remaining somewhat quiet and admittedly a little sulky, Neon made his way back to the office with Vah. The two held a conversation well and though it lightened Neon's mood a bit, his heart obviously wasn't in it all the way. The day had been saturated in thoughts of his homeland and he didn't seem to be able to shake it except in short bursts. Neon was definitely not focused and had made a few strange decisions this day that not even he himself fully understood. He did his best to clear his mind for the moment and enjoy the light conversation while he could, as it was rather pleasant.
ooo"Vah! Sweetie! Hon! Listen. I've been needing a partner of sorts to attend meetings with and it would be a huge favor for me if you would attend with me. Just a few every now and then when the invitation is Mage exclusive and I need an escort. Nothing too serious. I'd be willing to pay, even. Not a problem. You'd have to move up to Rank Four. It'll be great! You and me. The events and grandeur. I can get you into some great parties. Kaila ranted in what she thought was a smooth motion. She may be deft at manipulation at times but at other times she was as blunt as a man. Even if she did try and run pass the part about being promoted to Rank Four by speeding up the pace at which she was speaking. She honestly felt she should be more upfront with Vah than she generally was and toned down her methods quite a bit.
ooo A brow lifting as Kaila began, Neon started to wonder where she was going with this. He knew she had to have something more up her sleeve, but he had no clue as to what that might be. A particular point that she tried to rush past stood out to him, however. He turned to Vah intently. "You can raise to Rank Four? You'd have access to the Rank Four Warrior's Quarters and Training Grounds, then. We could train to prepare for the tournament . . . I'm sorry! Just . . . thinking out loud" He really didn't know what was getting in to him. He honestly had not intended to speak out loud after the first sentence or two that had just come rushing out. He nearly had spilled all of his thoughts on the matter before he trailed off. It was true, though the Festival of Lights was coming up and that was an opportunity to test his mettle that he couldn't pass up. Especially against the one man he truly looked up to. But the problem was the Mages and new breed of Half Mage and Half Warrior opponents he would face. He had never been good at dealing with the arcane arts and he truly needed someone to practice with. He had not known that Vah was such a powerful mage.
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Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 12:13 pm
((Thank you for waiting <3 My vacation was swell but yesterday my basement flooded from rain water D: We spent an hour and half sweeping water into our sump pump and sink XD any hoots, I couldn't reply because of that Dx)) Vah had remained tight-lipped on the subject and carried on with casual remarks about the upcoming festivals and holiday. It was a topic that he continued to ramble on and on about with his co-workers, whom were finishing up their lunch break. As he finally sat down and questioned the two gossiping ladies, he backed up with a frown as the overly enthusiastic Kaila started to get heated up with ideas, seemingly getting closer and closer to him. It was hard to eat with the woman just piping away with ideas and if she was made of fire, he'd surely burn by now. Wearily he gave a side eye to Nino as well as a few other co-workers and only Nino shrugged while the rest gave the new lady just as much of a confusing look as Vah did. With caution and making sure to bring in Mr. Buffer hiding out back, he included Neon into the conversation as quick as possible with, "Hold on...what about Neon? He's quite the warrior though! I've never been good at meetings," there were a few nods in the background and someone had mentioned that Vah was the one man who was best as a secretary writing everything down rather than a meeting companion who discussed. When she got around to mentioning how it was mage-exclusive he pointed to Nino and said ,"Ooohhkay....Nino's like your best pal and she's a mage AND a supervisor." He continued on, clearly not having it. Turning down the offer, Vah made sure to point out the extra details. He was having troubling listening to the fast-paced chat of the infamously peppy Kaila, but one two words caught his ears like they always do, and with disdain, "I'll have to turn that down. I'm not going anywhere," he frowned. Feeling cornered and sick, he capped his lunch and placed it carefully in his bag, making sure it wouldn't leak.
"Oh...well...yeah! I've been able to move up for a good year or more now. I'm not willing to do so though. It's a bore," he lied. He knew the council's intentions with him. He was a powerhouse on the field. People like Kaila could choose between fame and being a civilian or being part of the battlefield, but people like Vah usually couldn't touch the tip of "choice" if he wanted. He added in with a joke,"Actually, Neon, I've not practiced in a good two or so years. I can't particularlly control anything all too well. Rusty, a bit...or a lot.." he said, glancing and glaring at his co-worker next desk over for help. Piper cleared his throat and made a remark, handing an armful of flasks for Vah to refill from the storage room, while blocking Kaila from following by pointing at the "floor three alchemist workstation: floor three office employee's ONLY" sign, "On that note, yeah, he set half of the nearby forest on fire once...council's rules. Remember? It was getting poor in soil quantity and they needed to burn and bring some nutrients to the forest...." he droned on about the case request for a good solid minute before someone coughed and said,"Piper, shut up. We don't need a nerd's briefing of a case that the council, a.k.a rank fours and up!, already knows!" Turning to Neon, she said,"Long story short. He could control his magic then. They hired him to do the work of 8 mages or something. He'd make a fantastic sparring partner if you don't mind being cremated."
((It's so short..but it'll be longer once things get rolling. I don't want to write a post all on history or a long story of he did this or a flashback or anything XD And don't worry. He will reconsider soon or later. But clearly not if he's being requested up in his face XD))
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 3:59 pm
ooo Kaila placed her hands on her hips and gave Vah a "Come on" look. She hadn't tried to force his hand, only playfully drop the idea into the conversation. "Totally fine. You don't have to accept anything. And no offense, Nino, but I don't swing that way. I prefer to attend my meetings with a man at my side. Capable men, as well. Neon does well for non mage exclusive meetings, but I need someone to accompany me when he isn't able to attend. How do you two fair in the magic department?" Kaila asked with a smirk, turning her attention from Vah to the two who had chimed in to defend him. Hot and then cold, she would back off for now. The seed had been planted and that was good enough. She wouldn't pursue further, shooing Vah away and telling her outright not to follow was over the top and a little rude, she felt, but Kaila wouldn't let that on. A smile and a laugh were on her lips as always. She had no intention on taking either of the two behind their desks to any meeting of the sort unless they had some sort of prestige to their name. Showing up with the rumored Vah at her side would draw attention ... as long as he willingly came. Forcing the topic right now would not be beneficial for her, so she would back off. Not that Neon's glares were making the situation any better. Was was he so upset?
ooo Neon felt the tension in the air and his attitude responded in kind. He didn't know why Vah was getting so uncomfortable and defensive, but he didn't mean to put him in that situation. Immensely frustrated at himself for speaking out of turn, Neon tried to fix things, but with so many eyes on him, he was beginning to feel uncomfortable himself and tripped over his words. "I didn't mean to- I just ..." he tried to speak, but it was then that Vah was given a task and ushered away. Neon began to follow, but the sign clearly said he shouldn't. Grunting to himself and burning with rage, he shot Kaila a fiery glare. When Neon's coworkers began to speak up for Vah and explain the situation, he didn't really grasp what was going on, and remained confused through their explanation until the bit about him being cremated, which (with his mood and confusion combined) Neon took as a personal attack. In one swift motion, Neon drew his sword and closed the gap between him and the man, sword pointed directly at the alchemist tower coworker. "Why don't we see how I fare against you, instead?" Neon asked with a scowl on his face.
ooo"Woah woah woah, big guy! Put the sword down ... I think it's best we leave, Nino. Sorry for any trouble I've caused. And thanks for the potions." she offered to the manager, lowering her voice for the last bit and giving her friend a wink. "Let's get you back to the dorms." Kaila said to Neon, who had only barely lowered his sword by his side and was still glaring intently at the mage behind his desk. He really was off of his game lately. Kaila wondered what kept setting him off so easily. Was Mantho really getting under his skin that much, lately? Either way, she needed to get him out of here. She attempted to take him by the arm and lead him out, but he shrugged off her attempt. Kaila gasped and smacked him on the arm.
ooo"Keep your hands off me." he demanded through gritted teeth. He locked eyes with her for a moment before giving the other coworker a final glare before whipping around and storming out of the building with Kaila calling after him.
ooo"I am so sorry! I don't know what's gotten into him. Tell Vah I'm sorry! And if he ever reconsiders to give me a shout!" she offered, blowing a kiss to Piper and an amused smirk to Nino before following after Neon to try and calm him down. She wouldn't be able to find him for the rest of the day . . . or for a few days, for that matter, which was very strange for them. Kaila generally knew all of Neon's primary hangout spots, and he had accepted any jobs ... that she knew of, at least. He would have to show up before too long, though. It was less than a month until the Festival of Lights and there was no way that Neon would miss that. If only because of the chance to compete and see how far he'd progressed.
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:24 pm
((Just a heads up, my finals start next Friday and end the following Tuesday. I may pull an extravagant disappearing act XD I will reply to all PMS and stuff, but will be focusing on trying not to die making sure I pass my tests actually studying for once wink ))
At the commotion outside the storeroom, Vah poked his head out to see what the hell happened only to have his head lightly nudged back into the storeroom by a fully entertained Nino. This was going to be interesting few weeks. She knew all about Kaila of course. Her personality was an open book and she was a penny coin show to most people in the entire city (and even outside!) She was as cheerful on most days as presented and being a celebrity of some sort put her name out across the continent (you would call our little map a continent or world..?). The same way how nobles were treated, most ranked 4s would bask in that as well. Vah used to call it the “rich to rags VIP treatment” where nobles were born as such while the Ranked 4s were treated the same way knights were treated…with Sirs and Lords and Ladies, but they had worked towards that goal. Nino, despite her ranking, was obviously known for many things, blackmailer…witch…entrepreneur with her own potion line…so her name went near Kaila’s. Now this other man…she’d heard of him alright. She was not THAT much older than Neon, but being a floor supervisor and “honorary rank 4” had its perks. She attended certain rank 4 meetings (when invited) (think of her as a CEO [not of the tower, but of her own potion brand] and many juicy gossip gets thrown around there…as unprofessional as that sounded. She’d seen him every now and then, in the mixed guild board meetings, but she thought of him as much as she thought of every other prestigious member on the board…which was next to never. It was a “true honor” for the man to visit them today, but it was definitely not a shocker. She’d hear about his attitude in gossip and his actions speak the same. His mood changed and flipped by the coin it seems.
Kaila had done nothing wrong besides make Vah uncomfortable, but when Neon seemed to find and peek through some hidden rage and adrenaline, the entire office began to stare. Some even fingered their tomes near their desks (just in case). One of the women gasped and began to spray a calming potion spray before anything escalated any further. The woman who had hushed Piper and had mentioned the cremation point as a joke screeched at Neon’s reaction. Piper went pale, wondering why the man seemed to be so angry at him. Though it was he who had shooed Vah away, it was obviously not obvious enough that Vah did not want any part of the conversation. The woman in a startled fit made a remark that currently Neon, ranked 4 or not, was surrounded by an entire office of mages and alchemists who need not to engage in close combat to roast him alive. ”Goodness, you! Can’t seem to take a joke! If you startle so towards fire magic, then don’t enter a mage’s guild! The woman (being a older lady in her 50’s) stormed out of the office to the bathrooms and Piper scratched his head, not fazed by the stares, though still trying to calm down. ”Uh…so yeah…just a joke. I mean not REALLY a joke, Vah’s just dangerous to be around since he’s so out of practice…” he added in, his voice getting lower and lower to a close whisper with the blade near his being. He gently nudged the blade away and sitting back down.
Nino reappeared with her hands to her hips, somewhere between clearly amused and fuming at the slight moment of danger to her employees. With a peeved glance at the man who couldn’t keep his anger down and a roll of eyes to her friend she said,”Oh no problem dearest. You’ve not need to apologize for others. Still, Wendy’s right. No need to draw a blade in an office of mages…that’s hardly a good impression on someone you’re trying to befriend!”she lightly scolded in both their directions before finally adding in with a playful huff, ”And for the record! I don’t swing your way either! I’ve a fancy date tonight…with a MAN. Now off you go. Please don’t anger the spirits in the halls. You know that Kaila, right? They’re so drawn to negative auras…and please remind your friend no weapons are drawn in mage quarters. It’s against the rules and….how did you even get past security?” She gasped at the sudden realization. Whatever the case, Kaila was already pushing the other man out. For a first meeting, she sure had a horrible impression of the famous quick rising four star Neon. Wendy had returned just as they were leaving with a glare at Neon as well as Kaila (for bringing things she knew shouldn’t be brought up). Piper just stared on with confusion at the blown kiss before Nino snapped everyone back to their work stations for a “Total of 18 minutes lost in productivity.”
Vah returned with the potions and apologized for the commotion just now. Frowning at the doorway with Kaila and Neon having gone, he sighed. He knew that he was, in a way, being a coward and selfish for his decisions, but has anyone ever really called a pacifist a coward? He made his decision a long time ago and he was determined to stick it out. He’d fight if the town was under fire of course, but requests by others to take other lives? Out of what? Revenge? Assassination? For the fun of festivals? It just felt wrong. He had horribly disfigured a man before he succumbed and he wanted none of that again. Sighing he added in, ”Damn, none of this would have happened if I didn’t come in late huh?
((That was a very negative response D: But I wanted to do some sort of response that I didn’t do before. Usually a sign of danger would quiet a room of people, but I’ve seen how some people react to fear because they’ve lost face (such as being startled or because they showed fear) so they react poorly.))
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:04 pm
ooo It was the first day of the Festival of Lights and like the name sake, strings of twinkling lights had been strung around the city. It was midday at this point, but come night the city would be an array of shades and hues that would paint the city a rainbow. Stands now lined the sides of the street sides and booths selling a variety of products. Masks and flasks filled with colorful liquids. Illuminator's fireworks, a magic in their own right and a myriad of games for all ages. The Mage's guild had done their fair share to doll the city up as well, the lights not even touching some of their grander feats. Fountains sprayed water in every direction, the streams forming ribbons and extravagant images before returning to their well. Sides of buildings were painted with moving pictures of beautiful landscapes and lanterns were already being prepared for spirits to lift into the air come night fall. All different sizes and colors and shapes, some like huge dragons and some like thunderheads. Neon could hardly wait for the sun to make it's decent over the horizon. A smile painted Neon's face which was surprising given the events of only a few weeks past. He and Kaila still weren't really talking, or rather, they hadn't since the event, but he had sent her an apology letter, which she had responded in kind to but he wasn't sure how cool they were. He knew her better than she knew herself and she knew him in a similar fashion, he had to admit. When sitting down to write his letter he was forced to face the fact that he was being unreasonable. He still felt uncomfortable about that, but not much could hurt his spirits at this point, Baroness Shahar had put him under some special training and his back and forth with his newly acquired friend had put him in high moods that the Festival of Lights hadn't since he was a child. This was to be the biggest turnout in years and for once that didn't make him feel like pulling his teeth out with his bare hands. Standing by a booth that sold a plethora of baked goods, Neon waited feeling a little bit like a fool in his entirely too formal get up. Dressed head to toe in white and red silks with a hat with a large red feather plume. He looked more suited to the royal guard, but he was hardly the least extravagantly dressed fellow walking the streets and the women were even more flamboyantly garbed. The lace around his neck and sleeves felt strange compared to his usual plain woolen clothes. He definitely wasn't one for fashion and he hoped the shopkeeper had not led him astray with his choice. Without Kaila by his side and with little time to prepare what with all of the training, he had little choice in the matter. Neon felt like his mind was being pulled a thousand different directions, lately and he found it hard to focus, but finally with his training, he had something to zone in on and pour his effort into, the tournament at the end of the festival would be the true test as to how much he had grown in his abilities. For now, though, his heart was guiding him in ways he was no where near understanding.
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