[ In the meantime, Vash has propped the suite door open. When Declan arrives, he'll be able to see them even from the doorway: Vash has moved Nai to the couch in the common area and tried to make it as comfortable as possible, propping up his neck and tucking a blanket over him.
Vash himself is kneeling by the couch with Nai's hand clutched between his own. For a brief moment, his expression is slack; angular markings stand out against his skin, glowing a bright and intense blue. He doesn't care, in this moment, if anyone can see him or that the last time Nai resonated with him he tried to destroy his mind. Vash is terrified. Nai is clearly breathing and physically unharmed, but Vash has never seen him so much as nap, let alone fall unconscious. He doesn't understand why he can't resonate with Nai and fix this.
The moment he hears any noise or notices movement, Vash seems to shake out of it, the glow beginning to fade. When he looks up at Declan, it's obvious that he's on the verge of panicked tears. ]
I know we haven't really met but I remembered you helping me and I - I didn't know what else to do. I found him on the floor. He won't wake up.
[ Declan really wasn't far, just in one of the common areas, so he comes jogging up rather quickly. All he knows about Vash is what is false memories tell him, and so he expects it to be the man himself who needs help. Perhaps another injury? Something wrong with his prosthetic?
Well, whatever thoughts he might have about the situation go straight out of his head when he walks in and finds Vash glowing, bent over the still form of... his brother? Yes, the memories seem to supply that Vash has a brother, though they offer little else. The glow is interesting, though certainly not the strangest sight for a man who spends a great deal of time in the company of a paladin and a cleric. ]
Ah, it's quite alright. I'm not much of a healer, but I'll see what I can do. Why don't you tell me what happened from the beginning, up to what you were trying to do just now, hm?
[ This, as Declan fishes around in the satchel at his side, pulling up a set of tools. Don't worry about it. ]
[ Vash is worried about it. He looks anxiously from the tools to Nai, then to Declan again.
It's not exactly the ideal way to meet someone, begging them to examine his brother. While he knows that his memory tells him Declan is capable and trustworthy, they don't know very much about each other. He knows that Declan likes robots, that Declan is good with machines that can help put people back together, but beyond that... He doesn't think he's done anything in return that would be worth as much as Declan coming to help him now.
Vash is absurdly grateful to him. Even if Declan can't do much in the end, the fact that he's here means a lot.
He nods slowly, trying to take a deep breath or two. ] I heard something fall in his room. When I went to go check, he didn't answer, so I went in. I found him on the floor with his headset on. I guess he was in the middle of something in the game? [ He frowns, uncertain if it even matters. ] He hasn't come out of his room in a few days but... He doesn't need to eat or sleep when he has access to his Gate - uh, his abilities - so it shouldn't really matter. He doesn't get sick or tired like a human.
[ Vash gets all of those things; he's been sick and hungry and tired. It makes it easier for him to pass as human, and it makes it easier for him to tell himself that it won't matter that he's not. But maybe that's a part of why he called Declan, instead of someone like Bricks - maybe a part of him knows that it will matter less to someone who isn't human. He's happy to put his own life in human hands but Nai - Nai is different. ]
[ Declan is still fishing a couple of things out of his bag, and has a long, thin screwdriver held in his mouth so he can use his hands for that task. He frowns around it, looking thoughtful. He starts to speak, but it's muffled. Ah right.
He grabs the screwdriver, motioning with it like a pointer. ]
Perhaps here, he does. I know my abilities are not what they were, even in this house or in the ON world. If he's not used to needing to sleep, maybe it took him by surprise. Stayed up too much or spent too long in the game, that kind of thing.
If that's the case, a Lesser Restoration ought to do it.
[ You know, assuming Knives only has one level of exhaustion, mechanically speaking. The rest he'll have to do by resting and taking care of himself. ]
I think I can still manage it, but it might take a bit longer than normal with my dampened abilities. What do you say? Mind my taking a crack at it?
[ It sounds so reasonable when Declan says it. Ever since they were kids, Nai has been outpacing him by miles, so the idea that he might not have already figured out how to perfectly balance his remaining energy right down to the last second or something like that never really occurred to Vash. He supposes it makes sense, though. Nai has only ever had to pretend at limiting himself - he doesn't know what it's like to live like everyone else, and he resents it too much to try.
Vash nods and takes another slow breath, feeling a little more calm at least. ] Yeah, maybe you're right. I was trying to resonate with him but I don't think I'm strong enough to bring him back.
[ He has no idea what a Lesser Restoration is, but it sounds helpful. He nods at Declan and shifts so he's not in the way, but he doesn't let go of Nai's hand even so. It's half-sentimental, half-practical - Vash doesn't particularly trust that Nai won't react defensively the moment he wakes up. ]
Whatever you can do, I appreciate it, but... Will you be okay, Declan? [ The concern on his face isn't any less pronounced than it was with Nai, though at least he's not about to cry this time. ] I don't want you to wear yourself out if it's too much.
[ Resonate? That must be what the glowing was about. He adds that to his mental note of things to ask about, though he'll save it for when Vash isn't looking quite so distressed.
In any case, he waves a dismissive hand. ]
I should be fine. I already use my inventions to channel my magic, so it's not as if I'm working totally on my own.
[ Says the man who has not yet attempted casting many spells since he got here and has no reason to be as confident as he is.
Declan tugs up his sleeve, revealing a brass band worn around his forearm, into which are built... well, it's hard to tell. They look like little rods? Made of brass and copper. He slots the screwdriver between the strange rods, fiddling with it. It's a good thing Declan hadn't thought to prepare any of his gadgets when he got here, so a bit of tuning and he'll have Lesser Restoration primed and ready to go!
In short order, the device on his arm gives a soft whir, pieces clicking and clacking as the rods extend and unfold, revealing themselves to be long, spindly arms, each one tipped with just as spindly and terribly delicate-looking fingers. ]
I'm going to need to touch him, but I promise the process is completely harmless. [ He motions to Knives with the screwdriver still in his other hand. ] May I?
[ Vash nods again, though he's not sure he completely believes Declan he doesn't really know enough about magic or his particular kind of technology to know any better. He'll have to ask him about it later, when Nai isn't unconscious.
He watches Declan roll up his sleeve and get to work. He's never really seen anything like this before; it's not like the sleek spacefairing technology he knows relatively well, or even the sort of in-between that most of No Man's Land has managed to cobble together from its remains. It's sleek and complex and delicate-looking, like something out of a movie. ]
Wow, it's beautiful... [ Vash says, forgetting the situation for the briefest moment. Declan is asking him something, and he blinks for a moment, processing. It's not just the distraction -- he's wholly unaccustomed to being asked for permission like this, with every step. It's strange, but it puts him more at ease. ] It sort of depends on where the screwdriver is supposed to go... but, yes? [ He's mostly joking, or trying to. ]
Is there anything I should know? If your concentration breaks, or if something goes wrong?
[ Said with a bit of a laugh, glad that Vash isn’t beyond trying to make a little joke. Declan’s not-so-professional medical opinion is that his brother will be fine. ]
And I don’t believe there’s anything you need to know. If it doesn’t work, he’ll be no better or worse off than he is now and we can try something else.
[ You know, but just be ready in case Knives comes up swinging.
True to his word, he puts the screwdriver away, then steps close to place his hand with the device on it on Knives’ shoulder. The little hands splay over his chest, threads of softly glowing purple light spanning between them like some kind of arcane cat’s cradle game. Declan hums a little, thinking. Usually his little arms move much, much faster than this. It must be an effect of having his abilities dampened. What normally takes seconds is drawn out to several minutes.
The tiny hands made of clockwork and magic play over those strings, picking at things, rearranging them, until they have removed whatever it is that is ailing Knives – in this case, a level of exhaustion.
Satisfied that the spell has in fact worked as intended, if in slow-motion, Declan retracts his hand, the shining brass arms folding back against the band on his own arm. He glances at Vash. ]
[ Knives may have multiple levels of exhaustion that he'll need to clear, but either way, the spell washes through him and does enough that only a few seconds later, his eyes begin to blink open.
Normally, Knives doesn't sleep, and therefore, Knives is not used to waking up. His vision is slightly blurred at the edges and his head feels like cotton, but as his consciousness returns and he realizes that he has no idea how he got to where he is, panic surges through him.
He sits up halfway and flings one arm out reflexively, but it's not in any way targeted, and therefore it's simple enough for Vash to grab and hold his wrist. The touch alone helps to center him, but Knives is still quite disoriented, the exhaustion wearing on his face as he tries to make sense of why he's laid out on a couch with his brother and some stranger crouched around him.
Eventually he has no recourse to fall back against the couch cushion as fatigue outweighs everything else he's feeling.
But... wait. He blinks at the stranger a few times as memories filter in unbidden. He's too out of it to shove them away, and instead he murmurs a baffled question. ] You're that man from... Botbattles. Why are you here...?
[ Declan had been this || close to just straight up casting Shield on himself out of instinct (or trying to), but thankfully Vash catches his brother by the wrist and Declan is spared a possible decking for the crime of trying to help out.
He gives the man on the couch a considering look, watches as a man so unused to being exhausted tries to fight it and only barely manages to scrape out a win. Kind of. The mention of Botbattles makes Declan's eyebrows wing up in mild surprise. ]
I would say it's nice to meet a fan, but I can't imagine this isn't a very pleasant way to meet anyone.
[ He angles his head at Vash. ]
Your brother found you passed out and called me for help. I'm happy to report it seems to have worked!
[ He lets go of Nai's hands once Nai calms down, but he keeps his hand on his brother's chest to make sure that Nai has gotten the message about staying put and not brandishing any knives at the man who helped revive him. Nai might be exhausted, but he's single-minded and stubborn. The last thing Vash wants is Nai shoving them off and marching back to his room to keep playing video games because he's no longer unconscious. ]
About that -- thank you, Declan. You're amazing. [ Vash's relief and gratitude are entirely sincere. He knows that Declan seems to think it wasn't a big deal, but he's never seen anyone short of a very specialized engineer even begin to understand how to treat a Plant, let alone handling both him and Nai so kindly and gently.
He glances at Nai. ] Declan used his magic to help you. [ There's a slight questioning hook on the word magic, something that's almost entirely unfamiliar to Vash. ] He thinks you passed out because you're exhausted. You need to rest until you feel better -- if you keep overdoing it, you'll have to rest even longer.
[ He thinks that after the morning he's had, he's allowed to give his brother a little bit of shit, so he adds: ] If it makes you feel better, it's not too late to ask Declan for an autograph.
[ Vash's hand braced on his chest seems to be less about offering support and more about keeping him in place. Knives barely even has the energy to be annoyed by that, let alone to fight against it to once again try and sit up. It seems that like it or not, he's confined to this couch for now.
It also seems that despite their last few encounters, which have been strained at best and violent at worst, Vash still worried for him when he found him unconscious. Knives needs some time to process that, time that neither of them are truly giving him as they prattle on. ]
Magic...? [ He also seems to get caught up on that word. It's not something that exists where they're from, and his eyes narrow with mild suspicion as he stares at the Botbattles man. Declan. Images of watching him on a screen as he speaks about some banal creation of his filter through his mind. ] What did you do?
[ However, he does take the point that he apparently can't stay awake into perpetuity like he once did, not even when logged into Duocaeli. With a small groan, he runs a hand down his face. The last thing he needed was for someone else to see him in such a vulnerable state, but his brother acted out of concern and so he can only be so upset.
At Vash's little tease, he drops his hand to his lap and glares at him. ] Enough. You know none of that is real. I was... disoriented. [ Leave him alone!! ]
Oh, yes magic! [ He'll leave any further scolding or caretaking advice to Vash. It's not really his place, as an outside and near-perfect stranger, to scold the man. Vash seems to have that part well in-hand already anyway, as any good brother should.
(Little does he know.)
So, instead he lifts his hand again. Having tugged his sleeve back into place, the little hands on their slender arms poke out of his sleeve, catching the light as they almost seem to wave before retreating again. ]
I'm an artificer, you see, which means my inventions work in concert with the arcane. I just used a little spell called Lesser Restoration on you. Handy for curing what ails you from poison to paralysis to even exhaustion. It's not exhaustive by any means, however, so no doubt you still feel like you've been trampled by a herd of wild cattle. [ A stampede, one might even say. ] As your brother says, you'll need to rest.
[ He takes a step back, then, glancing at Vash again. Knives' assertion that none of these memories they all seem to have are real doesn't seem to bother him one way or another. He knows it's true, and he's certainly not attached enough to his supposed television fame to be upset at someone denying its existence. ]
I'm happy to take my leave now, if you like. I'm sure you'd like to get your brother situated, and you don't need me here prattling on for that.
[ Vash is so accustomed to Nai glaring at him that it doesn't even phase him. If anything, there's the barest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth before he manages to suppress it. ]
You can stay. [ Vash says, before Nai has anything to say about it. It's rare enough that he gets to talk to anyone without Nai trying to murder them in front of him that he's not quite ready to let go of the novelty.
He likes Declan. It would be nice if they could get to actually be friends. ] I mean -- if you don't mind? I know I just dragged you into this out of nowhere and we don't really know anything about each other so... Maybe we could just talk?
[ He knows without even having to think about it that Nai will have a half-dozen questions about magic and artificers so, despite his own curiosity, he leaves that part to his brother. ]
[ Despite the fact that both of them are continuing to talk both to him and around him, Knives has to focus far more than he's used to in order to ensure that their words don't simply go in one ear and out the other. This level of exhaustion — like being trampled by a herd of wild cattle, as Declan called it — is unlike anything he's endured before. He doesn't like how it makes him so unaware, the edges of his thoughts rounded off.
No doubt he does need to rest more, and eventually he'll be left with no choice, but he isn't rushing to do so even if the couch is much more comfortable than it has any right to be.
He instead sorts through what Declan explained to him while staring at the golden bangle on his arm, as Vash naturally invites him to stay. Friendly to a fault, as always, but at least there is something to learn here. ]
The arcane? And that is... what, some manner of energy source? Are you only able to perform these feats because you're not human?
[ Or so he guesses, judging by the ears — and the fact that Vash called Declan specifically for this task. He would have known better than to call on the assistance of a human, if there were any other option. ]
The arcane is… hm, I suppose one might call it the ability to manipulate the world around you. It doesn’t stem from any one place. For some people, it’s learned. For others, it’s innate. For others still, it’s a power granted by the gods or by nature itself. The range is quite wide.
For myself, I would say it’s mostly learned, and channeled through my inventions!
[ He puts his hands on his hips, seemingly proud of his ability to explain to someone who might not be familiar with the workings of his world. Whether or not any of that made sense to Vash, and especially to poor sleep-deprived Knives, he doesn’t know. He sure thinks it should though! ]
Oh, and that has nothing to do with my heritage. There are many races in my world and most all of them have the capacity for magic. I’m actually half human, myself! My mother is an elf, hence the— [ he motions to his face, mostly the eyes and ears. ]
[ Once it's evident that Nai isn't going anywhere, Vash helps himself to his feet. He's still listening to the conversation, just walking over to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
When he returns, he rests his arms against the back of the couch and offers the glass to Nai. His attention is mostly on Declan as he finishes his explanation. He can't say he really understands the finer points of how it works, but he's getting the gist of it.
Innate or learned power is something he understands well enough, but it's hard to imagine a world with gods so invested in their people that they might grant them the power to heal in times of need, or nature so well tended that it might return the favor. Still, it gives him hope. There are better worlds out there, and he hopes that Nai will start to understand that, maybe. ]
It sounds sort of like the abilities that people can get in Duocaeli. [ Vash pauses, hesitating a moment. ] The world we came from... doesn't really have people who aren't human, except for us. [ And the worms, but Vash doesn't really know if Zazie thinks of themself as 'people.' ] Is there anything different about elves, aside from your features? I didn't think anyone could be half-human.
[ Then this magic can be performed by anyone, the methods of casting the spells and the source of the power varying wildly. Vash is right that it sounds like what Knives has seen and read up on within the online world. He has control over the element of Light and will even be able to master a spell after having completed the bingo card.
Which is something he'd wanted to delve into more, save for the fact that he'd passed out and woken up here. This is a world he is much less interested in existing in, but it seems there's no helping it.
He props himself up on the couch slightly and takes the glass of water from Vash without complaint. Of all the things to consume, this is the easiest, and the water goes down easy. More than that, he drinks about half the glass in one go before he leans forward to set it down on the nearby coffee table. ]
Gods are very much extant entities in your world, then.
[ Interesting. Of course, he and Vash are also real, but Knives suspects it's not quite the same. He awaits Declan's response, his expression going sour for the moment. There's something unsettling about the idea of humans breeding with anyone other than their own kind, but he bites his tongue on that. ]
[ For his own part, Declan finds a chair to pull over and plops down. It seems there's no shortage of questions to be lobbed his way, so he might as well make himself comfortable. ]
A bit, yes. Though not all magic is associated with elements where I come from.
[ Same difference, though, probably. His understanding of the types of magic available in Duocaeli is that "fire" does not necessarily equate to "fire damage", and so on and so forth. There's probably something hiding in each type of magic that equates to something in his own world. ]
As for elves and gods... well, one at a time. I don't know too much about elven customs, apart from what I've read, since I wasn't raised among them. What I can tell you is that they're an aloof sort of people, known for their ethereal beauty and lifespans that can exceed 700 years. I would be considered a child in their eyes, where by human standards I'm a fully grown man.
But I do reap some of the benefits of my mother's heritage, one of which being an extended lifespan. Not nearly as long as a full elf would live, but if I'm lucky, I will live well beyond most humans. Oh, and I can see in the dark, too!
Ethereal beauty? [ He tilts his head to the side. ] I can see that. You're very handsome. [ Vash smiles, but he doesn't feel like he's sharing any new information or particular flattery. He doesn't know what the standard might be for elves, but thinks that it's just obvious - a statement of fact.
He wonders if Declan's eyes are that pretty lilac color to let him see in the dark, or just for the sake of it. It's interesting; almost everything he describes seems as if it's... without a specific purpose. So, in terms of their purpose, elves must be more like humans than they are like Plants. Still, Vash adds: ] Plants are like that, too. That is, our sisters live a long time, and we'll probably be the same.
[ He doesn't know for certain, although Nai might. He leaves out any comment about the circumstances under which Plants might not live that long.
He wants to ask why Declan didn't grow up with elves as well as humans, but for the moment he cedes to the request to let him answer one thing at a time - like Nai's question about gods, and whether they exist. He's curious about that himself. ]
[ Even if Knives' mind isn't firing on all cylinders, or even close to it, he doesn't miss the comment that Vash tosses Declan's way. It slips off his tongue as easy as anything. Handsome? Perhaps it is a mere statement of fact, but why say anything at all?
It occurs to Knives that Vash is probably the same with any regular human as well, open and shameless with his compliments, but he decides not to dwell on that overly much right now. It will only agitate him.
What surprises him even more is the fact that Vash is so open about what they are, though he must also realize that with Knives around, there will be little chance of hiding it. ]
They only live that long if they're not pushed to their limits by humans' greed. [ He spits the words out, unable to stop himself even when he's so exhausted. After a pause, he looks Declan over with a careful eye. ] ... You grew up among humans, then.
[ It's not as if it isn't the same for them, but Knives tries to forget that he was raised by one. ]
[ It’s a good thing that Declan had not been offered a glass of water, himself, because he would have definitely spit it out in surprise when Vash straight up calls him “handsome”. As it is, he goes a bit red, from the tips of his pointed ears to the arcs of his cheekbones. His gaze darts away from the pair of brothers at the couch. ]
Er… um. That’s kind of you to say.
[ LET’S NOT TALK ABOUT THAT OKAY. There are plenty of other interesting things that Vash brings up, and Knives is quick to understand what it is that Declan isn’t saying regarding his own upbringing. ]
Then the two of you are “Plants”? I had wondered what the glowing meant. I thought you might perhaps be some sort of celestial!
[ Maybe Plants are celestials, he doesn’t know. ]
I grew up among all types, though humans are fairly prevalent. My primary caretaker was a warforged. In this world, I suppose they’d be likened to robots or androids, but rest assured, they are perfectly sentient.
[ Vash tilts his head to the other side, his eyebrows drawing together, not unlike a puppy encountering some new and puzzling curiosity. He hadn't meant to embarrass Declan -- he would have thought he got that kind of thing all the time, especially if it's something his people are known for. He decides not to press the issue, flashing another brief but more apologetic smile.
He can practically feel Nai stewing on it for whatever reason, so it probably is for the best. ]
Celestial? Like an angel? No, we're not anything like that. [ Nai. ] Most Plants were created by humans - our purpose is to supply humanity with the resources they need to survive. The conditions of our world are very harsh, so sometimes they have to push our sisters too hard. [ He's trying very hard to keep his tone from being pointed. He doesn't want to have this argument with Nai again. ]
We were glowing because I was trying to resonate with Nai. It's sort of how we communicate.
[ Vash is carefully not looking at his brother at all while he says this. He still has scars on his back from the last time they resonated. ]
So you were raised by a warforged... Is that why you're so interested in robots?
[ Celestial? With the way that Declan speaks the word, it's as if he's talking about something that he's encountered firsthand rather than read about in books or heard about in legends. That's enough to capture Knives' interest and he sits up straighter on the couch, though his head snaps toward his brother when he starts explaining about their sisters. ]
That is not our purpose. [ He says this more to Vash than to Declan, but turns to the "half-elf" soon after to add: ] And as I said, our sisters are pushed past the brink by humanity until there's nothing left. Enslaved and mistreated. Humans created them only to turn around and misuse them just as soon.
[ He's perhaps leaving out some important details, but he is curious to see how much Vash will push the issue especially when there's a relative stranger present. Either way, it's perhaps a bit impressive that he can get so worked up when he also looks like he's on the verge of passing out from exhaustion all over again.
His expression turns more contemplative then, the gears in his mind whirring. ]
... It sounds like this warforged might be similar. A creation of humans, yet not human itself, and supposedly intended for servitude.
[ Not a Plant, but similar in terms of the original concept. ]
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clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
no subject
[ In the meantime, Vash has propped the suite door open. When Declan arrives, he'll be able to see them even from the doorway: Vash has moved Nai to the couch in the common area and tried to make it as comfortable as possible, propping up his neck and tucking a blanket over him.
Vash himself is kneeling by the couch with Nai's hand clutched between his own. For a brief moment, his expression is slack; angular markings stand out against his skin, glowing a bright and intense blue. He doesn't care, in this moment, if anyone can see him or that the last time Nai resonated with him he tried to destroy his mind. Vash is terrified. Nai is clearly breathing and physically unharmed, but Vash has never seen him so much as nap, let alone fall unconscious. He doesn't understand why he can't resonate with Nai and fix this.
The moment he hears any noise or notices movement, Vash seems to shake out of it, the glow beginning to fade. When he looks up at Declan, it's obvious that he's on the verge of panicked tears. ]
I know we haven't really met but I remembered you helping me and I - I didn't know what else to do. I found him on the floor. He won't wake up.
no subject
Well, whatever thoughts he might have about the situation go straight out of his head when he walks in and finds Vash glowing, bent over the still form of... his brother? Yes, the memories seem to supply that Vash has a brother, though they offer little else. The glow is interesting, though certainly not the strangest sight for a man who spends a great deal of time in the company of a paladin and a cleric. ]
Ah, it's quite alright. I'm not much of a healer, but I'll see what I can do. Why don't you tell me what happened from the beginning, up to what you were trying to do just now, hm?
[ This, as Declan fishes around in the satchel at his side, pulling up a set of tools. Don't worry about it. ]
no subject
It's not exactly the ideal way to meet someone, begging them to examine his brother. While he knows that his memory tells him Declan is capable and trustworthy, they don't know very much about each other. He knows that Declan likes robots, that Declan is good with machines that can help put people back together, but beyond that... He doesn't think he's done anything in return that would be worth as much as Declan coming to help him now.
Vash is absurdly grateful to him. Even if Declan can't do much in the end, the fact that he's here means a lot.
He nods slowly, trying to take a deep breath or two. ] I heard something fall in his room. When I went to go check, he didn't answer, so I went in. I found him on the floor with his headset on. I guess he was in the middle of something in the game? [ He frowns, uncertain if it even matters. ] He hasn't come out of his room in a few days but... He doesn't need to eat or sleep when he has access to his Gate - uh, his abilities - so it shouldn't really matter. He doesn't get sick or tired like a human.
[ Vash gets all of those things; he's been sick and hungry and tired. It makes it easier for him to pass as human, and it makes it easier for him to tell himself that it won't matter that he's not. But maybe that's a part of why he called Declan, instead of someone like Bricks - maybe a part of him knows that it will matter less to someone who isn't human. He's happy to put his own life in human hands but Nai - Nai is different. ]
no subject
He grabs the screwdriver, motioning with it like a pointer. ]
Perhaps here, he does. I know my abilities are not what they were, even in this house or in the ON world. If he's not used to needing to sleep, maybe it took him by surprise. Stayed up too much or spent too long in the game, that kind of thing.
If that's the case, a Lesser Restoration ought to do it.
[ You know, assuming Knives only has one level of exhaustion, mechanically speaking. The rest he'll have to do by resting and taking care of himself. ]
I think I can still manage it, but it might take a bit longer than normal with my dampened abilities. What do you say? Mind my taking a crack at it?
no subject
Vash nods and takes another slow breath, feeling a little more calm at least. ] Yeah, maybe you're right. I was trying to resonate with him but I don't think I'm strong enough to bring him back.
[ He has no idea what a Lesser Restoration is, but it sounds helpful. He nods at Declan and shifts so he's not in the way, but he doesn't let go of Nai's hand even so. It's half-sentimental, half-practical - Vash doesn't particularly trust that Nai won't react defensively the moment he wakes up. ]
Whatever you can do, I appreciate it, but... Will you be okay, Declan? [ The concern on his face isn't any less pronounced than it was with Nai, though at least he's not about to cry this time. ] I don't want you to wear yourself out if it's too much.
no subject
In any case, he waves a dismissive hand. ]
I should be fine. I already use my inventions to channel my magic, so it's not as if I'm working totally on my own.
[ Says the man who has not yet attempted casting many spells since he got here and has no reason to be as confident as he is.
Declan tugs up his sleeve, revealing a brass band worn around his forearm, into which are built... well, it's hard to tell. They look like little rods? Made of brass and copper. He slots the screwdriver between the strange rods, fiddling with it. It's a good thing Declan hadn't thought to prepare any of his gadgets when he got here, so a bit of tuning and he'll have Lesser Restoration primed and ready to go!
In short order, the device on his arm gives a soft whir, pieces clicking and clacking as the rods extend and unfold, revealing themselves to be long, spindly arms, each one tipped with just as spindly and terribly delicate-looking fingers. ]
I'm going to need to touch him, but I promise the process is completely harmless. [ He motions to Knives with the screwdriver still in his other hand. ] May I?
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He watches Declan roll up his sleeve and get to work. He's never really seen anything like this before; it's not like the sleek spacefairing technology he knows relatively well, or even the sort of in-between that most of No Man's Land has managed to cobble together from its remains. It's sleek and complex and delicate-looking, like something out of a movie. ]
Wow, it's beautiful... [ Vash says, forgetting the situation for the briefest moment. Declan is asking him something, and he blinks for a moment, processing. It's not just the distraction -- he's wholly unaccustomed to being asked for permission like this, with every step. It's strange, but it puts him more at ease. ] It sort of depends on where the screwdriver is supposed to go... but, yes? [ He's mostly joking, or trying to. ]
Is there anything I should know? If your concentration breaks, or if something goes wrong?
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[ Said with a bit of a laugh, glad that Vash isn’t beyond trying to make a little joke. Declan’s not-so-professional medical opinion is that his brother will be fine. ]
And I don’t believe there’s anything you need to know. If it doesn’t work, he’ll be no better or worse off than he is now and we can try something else.
[ You know, but just be ready in case Knives comes up swinging.
True to his word, he puts the screwdriver away, then steps close to place his hand with the device on it on Knives’ shoulder. The little hands splay over his chest, threads of softly glowing purple light spanning between them like some kind of arcane cat’s cradle game. Declan hums a little, thinking. Usually his little arms move much, much faster than this. It must be an effect of having his abilities dampened. What normally takes seconds is drawn out to several minutes.
The tiny hands made of clockwork and magic play over those strings, picking at things, rearranging them, until they have removed whatever it is that is ailing Knives – in this case, a level of exhaustion.
Satisfied that the spell has in fact worked as intended, if in slow-motion, Declan retracts his hand, the shining brass arms folding back against the band on his own arm. He glances at Vash. ]
Try waking him now?
[ Unless Knives is already on his way there? ]
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Normally, Knives doesn't sleep, and therefore, Knives is not used to waking up. His vision is slightly blurred at the edges and his head feels like cotton, but as his consciousness returns and he realizes that he has no idea how he got to where he is, panic surges through him.
He sits up halfway and flings one arm out reflexively, but it's not in any way targeted, and therefore it's simple enough for Vash to grab and hold his wrist. The touch alone helps to center him, but Knives is still quite disoriented, the exhaustion wearing on his face as he tries to make sense of why he's laid out on a couch with his brother and some stranger crouched around him.
Eventually he has no recourse to fall back against the couch cushion as fatigue outweighs everything else he's feeling.
But... wait. He blinks at the stranger a few times as memories filter in unbidden. He's too out of it to shove them away, and instead he murmurs a baffled question. ] You're that man from... Botbattles. Why are you here...?
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He gives the man on the couch a considering look, watches as a man so unused to being exhausted tries to fight it and only barely manages to scrape out a win. Kind of. The mention of Botbattles makes Declan's eyebrows wing up in mild surprise. ]
I would say it's nice to meet a fan, but I can't imagine this isn't a very pleasant way to meet anyone.
[ He angles his head at Vash. ]
Your brother found you passed out and called me for help. I'm happy to report it seems to have worked!
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About that -- thank you, Declan. You're amazing. [ Vash's relief and gratitude are entirely sincere. He knows that Declan seems to think it wasn't a big deal, but he's never seen anyone short of a very specialized engineer even begin to understand how to treat a Plant, let alone handling both him and Nai so kindly and gently.
He glances at Nai. ] Declan used his magic to help you. [ There's a slight questioning hook on the word magic, something that's almost entirely unfamiliar to Vash. ] He thinks you passed out because you're exhausted. You need to rest until you feel better -- if you keep overdoing it, you'll have to rest even longer.
[ He thinks that after the morning he's had, he's allowed to give his brother a little bit of shit, so he adds: ] If it makes you feel better, it's not too late to ask Declan for an autograph.
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It also seems that despite their last few encounters, which have been strained at best and violent at worst, Vash still worried for him when he found him unconscious. Knives needs some time to process that, time that neither of them are truly giving him as they prattle on. ]
Magic...? [ He also seems to get caught up on that word. It's not something that exists where they're from, and his eyes narrow with mild suspicion as he stares at the Botbattles man. Declan. Images of watching him on a screen as he speaks about some banal creation of his filter through his mind. ] What did you do?
[ However, he does take the point that he apparently can't stay awake into perpetuity like he once did, not even when logged into Duocaeli. With a small groan, he runs a hand down his face. The last thing he needed was for someone else to see him in such a vulnerable state, but his brother acted out of concern and so he can only be so upset.
At Vash's little tease, he drops his hand to his lap and glares at him. ] Enough. You know none of that is real. I was... disoriented. [ Leave him alone!! ]
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(Little does he know.)
So, instead he lifts his hand again. Having tugged his sleeve back into place, the little hands on their slender arms poke out of his sleeve, catching the light as they almost seem to wave before retreating again. ]
I'm an artificer, you see, which means my inventions work in concert with the arcane. I just used a little spell called Lesser Restoration on you. Handy for curing what ails you from poison to paralysis to even exhaustion. It's not exhaustive by any means, however, so no doubt you still feel like you've been trampled by a herd of wild cattle. [ A stampede, one might even say. ] As your brother says, you'll need to rest.
[ He takes a step back, then, glancing at Vash again. Knives' assertion that none of these memories they all seem to have are real doesn't seem to bother him one way or another. He knows it's true, and he's certainly not attached enough to his supposed television fame to be upset at someone denying its existence. ]
I'm happy to take my leave now, if you like. I'm sure you'd like to get your brother situated, and you don't need me here prattling on for that.
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You can stay. [ Vash says, before Nai has anything to say about it. It's rare enough that he gets to talk to anyone without Nai trying to murder them in front of him that he's not quite ready to let go of the novelty.
He likes Declan. It would be nice if they could get to actually be friends. ] I mean -- if you don't mind? I know I just dragged you into this out of nowhere and we don't really know anything about each other so... Maybe we could just talk?
[ He knows without even having to think about it that Nai will have a half-dozen questions about magic and artificers so, despite his own curiosity, he leaves that part to his brother. ]
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No doubt he does need to rest more, and eventually he'll be left with no choice, but he isn't rushing to do so even if the couch is much more comfortable than it has any right to be.
He instead sorts through what Declan explained to him while staring at the golden bangle on his arm, as Vash naturally invites him to stay. Friendly to a fault, as always, but at least there is something to learn here. ]
The arcane? And that is... what, some manner of energy source? Are you only able to perform these feats because you're not human?
[ Or so he guesses, judging by the ears — and the fact that Vash called Declan specifically for this task. He would have known better than to call on the assistance of a human, if there were any other option. ]
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For myself, I would say it’s mostly learned, and channeled through my inventions!
[ He puts his hands on his hips, seemingly proud of his ability to explain to someone who might not be familiar with the workings of his world. Whether or not any of that made sense to Vash, and especially to poor sleep-deprived Knives, he doesn’t know. He sure thinks it should though! ]
Oh, and that has nothing to do with my heritage. There are many races in my world and most all of them have the capacity for magic. I’m actually half human, myself! My mother is an elf, hence the— [ he motions to his face, mostly the eyes and ears. ]
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When he returns, he rests his arms against the back of the couch and offers the glass to Nai. His attention is mostly on Declan as he finishes his explanation. He can't say he really understands the finer points of how it works, but he's getting the gist of it.
Innate or learned power is something he understands well enough, but it's hard to imagine a world with gods so invested in their people that they might grant them the power to heal in times of need, or nature so well tended that it might return the favor. Still, it gives him hope. There are better worlds out there, and he hopes that Nai will start to understand that, maybe. ]
It sounds sort of like the abilities that people can get in Duocaeli. [ Vash pauses, hesitating a moment. ] The world we came from... doesn't really have people who aren't human, except for us. [ And the worms, but Vash doesn't really know if Zazie thinks of themself as 'people.' ] Is there anything different about elves, aside from your features? I didn't think anyone could be half-human.
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Which is something he'd wanted to delve into more, save for the fact that he'd passed out and woken up here. This is a world he is much less interested in existing in, but it seems there's no helping it.
He props himself up on the couch slightly and takes the glass of water from Vash without complaint. Of all the things to consume, this is the easiest, and the water goes down easy. More than that, he drinks about half the glass in one go before he leans forward to set it down on the nearby coffee table. ]
Gods are very much extant entities in your world, then.
[ Interesting. Of course, he and Vash are also real, but Knives suspects it's not quite the same. He awaits Declan's response, his expression going sour for the moment. There's something unsettling about the idea of humans breeding with anyone other than their own kind, but he bites his tongue on that. ]
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A bit, yes. Though not all magic is associated with elements where I come from.
[ Same difference, though, probably. His understanding of the types of magic available in Duocaeli is that "fire" does not necessarily equate to "fire damage", and so on and so forth. There's probably something hiding in each type of magic that equates to something in his own world. ]
As for elves and gods... well, one at a time. I don't know too much about elven customs, apart from what I've read, since I wasn't raised among them. What I can tell you is that they're an aloof sort of people, known for their ethereal beauty and lifespans that can exceed 700 years. I would be considered a child in their eyes, where by human standards I'm a fully grown man.
But I do reap some of the benefits of my mother's heritage, one of which being an extended lifespan. Not nearly as long as a full elf would live, but if I'm lucky, I will live well beyond most humans. Oh, and I can see in the dark, too!
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He wonders if Declan's eyes are that pretty lilac color to let him see in the dark, or just for the sake of it. It's interesting; almost everything he describes seems as if it's... without a specific purpose. So, in terms of their purpose, elves must be more like humans than they are like Plants. Still, Vash adds: ] Plants are like that, too. That is, our sisters live a long time, and we'll probably be the same.
[ He doesn't know for certain, although Nai might. He leaves out any comment about the circumstances under which Plants might not live that long.
He wants to ask why Declan didn't grow up with elves as well as humans, but for the moment he cedes to the request to let him answer one thing at a time - like Nai's question about gods, and whether they exist. He's curious about that himself. ]
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It occurs to Knives that Vash is probably the same with any regular human as well, open and shameless with his compliments, but he decides not to dwell on that overly much right now. It will only agitate him.
What surprises him even more is the fact that Vash is so open about what they are, though he must also realize that with Knives around, there will be little chance of hiding it. ]
They only live that long if they're not pushed to their limits by humans' greed. [ He spits the words out, unable to stop himself even when he's so exhausted. After a pause, he looks Declan over with a careful eye. ] ... You grew up among humans, then.
[ It's not as if it isn't the same for them, but Knives tries to forget that he was raised by one. ]
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Er… um. That’s kind of you to say.
[ LET’S NOT TALK ABOUT THAT OKAY. There are plenty of other interesting things that Vash brings up, and Knives is quick to understand what it is that Declan isn’t saying regarding his own upbringing. ]
Then the two of you are “Plants”? I had wondered what the glowing meant. I thought you might perhaps be some sort of celestial!
[ Maybe Plants are celestials, he doesn’t know. ]
I grew up among all types, though humans are fairly prevalent. My primary caretaker was a warforged. In this world, I suppose they’d be likened to robots or androids, but rest assured, they are perfectly sentient.
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He can practically feel Nai stewing on it for whatever reason, so it probably is for the best. ]
Celestial? Like an angel? No, we're not anything like that. [ Nai. ] Most Plants were created by humans - our purpose is to supply humanity with the resources they need to survive. The conditions of our world are very harsh, so sometimes they have to push our sisters too hard. [ He's trying very hard to keep his tone from being pointed. He doesn't want to have this argument with Nai again. ]
We were glowing because I was trying to resonate with Nai. It's sort of how we communicate.
[ Vash is carefully not looking at his brother at all while he says this. He still has scars on his back from the last time they resonated. ]
So you were raised by a warforged... Is that why you're so interested in robots?
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That is not our purpose. [ He says this more to Vash than to Declan, but turns to the "half-elf" soon after to add: ] And as I said, our sisters are pushed past the brink by humanity until there's nothing left. Enslaved and mistreated. Humans created them only to turn around and misuse them just as soon.
[ He's perhaps leaving out some important details, but he is curious to see how much Vash will push the issue especially when there's a relative stranger present. Either way, it's perhaps a bit impressive that he can get so worked up when he also looks like he's on the verge of passing out from exhaustion all over again.
His expression turns more contemplative then, the gears in his mind whirring. ]
... It sounds like this warforged might be similar. A creation of humans, yet not human itself, and supposedly intended for servitude.
[ Not a Plant, but similar in terms of the original concept. ]
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