[ 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. ]
[ In any case, Declan just sort of lets that exchange play out, because what choice does he have? It seems there’s some sort of fundamental disagreement here about the nature of their… well, nature, and that is not really a debate for Declan to get involved in.
(But he still might ask about it sometime later.) ]
You’re not incorrect about the warforged. As the name suggests, they were built for war. What started as mindless automatons eventually gained sentience as the method of their creation advanced. It’s quite fascinating!
[ Vash is just on the cusp of getting into it again, but instead he shoots Nai a look and lets the topic drop in favor of Declan's explanation.
...Unfortunately, Vash can already sense Nai connecting the threads to get into yet another argument about Plants. Supposedly mindless creatures gaining sentience sounds like just the thing to set him off again.
It's a shame, because it does sound fascinating. ]
Maybe you can tell us about it later, after all. [ Vash smiles, a little tense. ] You were right -- Knives is more cranky than usual, so we should probably let him rest.
Edited (pretend he used 'knives' instead of 'nai' out loud in my other tag too i am a fool i'm so sorry) 2023-06-09 02:19 (UTC)
[ Yes, the talk of these warforged and how they had gained sentience beyond their original purpose is also fascinating to Knives, and he would be interested in learning more himself, but Vash is set on defusing the situation.
By calling him cranky, even. Knives' eyes narrow and his lips twist into what could only be called a pout. ]
Speak for yourself.
[ Does that even make sense? Probably not. Siblings are just like this, sometimes.
He glances to Declan and shakes his head. ] He only wants to evade the conversation. But do as you wish. [ He can't deny the fact that he's exhausted and it might be better to question Declan when he is firing on all cylinders, so to speak. ]
[ Declan spends a moment looking between each sibling. That "the girls are fightingggg" energy is still there, simmering just under the surface like it's waiting for just the right, or wrong, moment to bubble up again.
Yes, he's probably overstayed his welcome. He clears his throat. ]
Respectfully, I think I'll leave you to your rest. All this talk of magic and science and magic science is best done after a good night's sleep.
I'm glad to have been of some help. If either of you need me for anything, I am but a call away!
Thank you, Declan! [ Vash calls after him cheerfully. He also appreciates the lack of commentary on the fight they immediately started.
Once he's out sight, Vash sighs, mostly to himself. That could have gone worse, probably! No one even died!
He leans over the couch again and tucks the blanket around Nai. ] Get some rest, okay? I'm serious. The next time you scare me like that, I'll get Declan to autograph your face.
[ When Knives observes how quickly Declan leaves, he finds that he can't judge him for it. He has little context for the argument between them, and he only came here to administer his healing spell.
Having met him the once, he can always track him down and ask more questions at a later time.
Knives' eyes go wide when Vash leans in to draw the blanket over him, like he's some sickly child. But then he implies that he'd been scared by this turn of events, and that's even more baffling. ]
Surely you didn't think something as mundane as exhaustion would be my end, Vash. [ He shakes his head, but he hasn't thrown the blanket off, so that seems to be a surrender of sorts. ] Yes, I'll rest.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
no subject
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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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!
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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. ]
/2
no subject
(But he still might ask about it sometime later.) ]
You’re not incorrect about the warforged. As the name suggests, they were built for war. What started as mindless automatons eventually gained sentience as the method of their creation advanced. It’s quite fascinating!
no subject
...Unfortunately, Vash can already sense Nai connecting the threads to get into yet another argument about Plants. Supposedly mindless creatures gaining sentience sounds like just the thing to set him off again.
It's a shame, because it does sound fascinating. ]
Maybe you can tell us about it later, after all. [ Vash smiles, a little tense. ] You were right -- Knives is more cranky than usual, so we should probably let him rest.
no subject
By calling him cranky, even. Knives' eyes narrow and his lips twist into what could only be called a pout. ]
Speak for yourself.
[ Does that even make sense? Probably not. Siblings are just like this, sometimes.
He glances to Declan and shakes his head. ] He only wants to evade the conversation. But do as you wish. [ He can't deny the fact that he's exhausted and it might be better to question Declan when he is firing on all cylinders, so to speak. ]
no subject
Yes, he's probably overstayed his welcome. He clears his throat. ]
Respectfully, I think I'll leave you to your rest. All this talk of magic and science and magic science is best done after a good night's sleep.
I'm glad to have been of some help. If either of you need me for anything, I am but a call away!
no subject
Once he's out sight, Vash sighs, mostly to himself. That could have gone worse, probably! No one even died!
He leans over the couch again and tucks the blanket around Nai. ] Get some rest, okay? I'm serious. The next time you scare me like that, I'll get Declan to autograph your face.
no subject
Having met him the once, he can always track him down and ask more questions at a later time.
Knives' eyes go wide when Vash leans in to draw the blanket over him, like he's some sickly child. But then he implies that he'd been scared by this turn of events, and that's even more baffling. ]
Surely you didn't think something as mundane as exhaustion would be my end, Vash. [ He shakes his head, but he hasn't thrown the blanket off, so that seems to be a surrender of sorts. ] Yes, I'll rest.
[ He doesn't have to be happy about it, though. ]