I've been shaking, waking in the night light

[empyreancatastrophe]

Who: Joshua (empyreancatastrophe) and your character
Which: Open Log
Where: You get to pick! Outskirts of Reverein, Wikki Archives, or Crystal Caves
What: A catch-all for part of October!
Warnings: If you haven’t finished Final Fantasy XVI and/or care about spoilers, don't click that cut text.



No More Playing Flames [OPEN]
[Joshua finds himself practicing at the edge of town—far enough not to hurt anyone, but close enough to seek help if he should need it, if he thinks to ask. He’ll have to see if it’s worth it if he finds himself in a groove. Only time will tell.]

[With a deep breath, he begins to channel this still mysterious power of dreamotion, both familiar and foreign, carrying its own weight distinctive from the magicks of home. As he extends his hand, a fiery glow envelops his fingertips. It dances like flames in the night, ethereal and unpredictable. He's practiced this skill tirelessly, seeking to harness its potential and overcome the fatigue that always follows. He has to become stronger. He has to be able to protect others.]

[And that’s today’s goal. He’s created barriers back in Valisthea, yes, he hasn’t honed the art to accommodate the split-second decisions necessary in battle without Phoenix’s raw power. Not yet, at least.]

[Drawing upon his emotions, he reaches deep into his heart, searching for a source strong enough to bolster his attempts. Although not outwardly emotional, Joshua finds no trouble in tapping into the one well he knows will never run dry: the love he holds for his brother. He remembers their childhood, the laughter, the shared dreams, and their promise to protect each other. He’s already decided that it’s this love, this unbreakable bond, that will fuel his magicks here in Songerein.]

[Now he just has to get them to work in a way that won’t leave him drained.]

[The barrier materializes like a fiery wall, a translucent, otherworldly shimmer that wavers in the air with the intensity of a blazing inferno. His brow furrows in concentration as he infuses it with the strength of his emotions, willing it to hold strong and last longer than before as it crackles with power, a fiery resonance that vibrates through his veins. Still, Joshua can feel the toll on his strength, the way dreamotion saps his energy with every passing second. It's a different kind of fatigue from what he's used to, a weariness that settles deep within his bones. Vastly preferable to coughing up blood after greater manifestations of his power, but not ideal.]

[Regardless, he stands his ground, determined to push the limits of his abilities. The barrier remains stable, its fiery glow unwavering, as if infused with the essence of his love. A sense of accomplishment washes over him, and for a moment, Joshua believes that not only can it contend with the exhaustion, but possibly win. He's making progress, slowly learning to control this enigmatic magic while connecting it to his deepest emotions!]

[But all good things must come to an end. With each passing second, the shimmering wall weakens further. The fiery glow fades to a smoldering ember, and cracks start to appear, like a fragile glass sculpture on the verge of shattering. Desperation takes hold as he struggles to pour more energy into the failing shield, to reignite the fiery glow, but his fatigue proves too heavy an anchor. The barrier sputters and disintegrates into a shower of fading sparks and dissipating flames.]

[Joshua stumbles backward, drained and defeated, his body aching from the effort as he lowers himself to the ground with heavy breaths.]

[He didn’t mean to make such a show, and thankfully there are few civilians who can see him from where he is, but it’s still enough to call attention to anyone curious enough to check up on that peculiar burst of flame.]


Page Against the Machine [OPEN]
[The Songerein Wikki Archives proved far smaller than Joshua initially thought they would be when he first questioned about their existence. However, the treasure trove of information is far from disappointing, and he’s found himself darting in and out of the archive over the course of multiple days, poring over text after text in search of the truth about his noctaere incident.]

[Days that he’s easily spent hour upon hour deep in research. Sure, he could take the books home, and he has a couple of times, but there was something about the atmosphere that made him more productive in his search.]

[Or it would if he could find exactly what he was looking for.]

[Joshua’s tired eyes scan the pages with increasing frustration. The symbols blur together, and the words become a dissonant jumble in his mind. If anyone were to ask, he’d vehemently deny it, but the truth is that he hasn't slept much, if at all. The lines between the past and present practically disappear as fatigue gnaws at his resolve. He's run himself ragged, driven by the need to understand why this incident echoes the burden his body bears back home. He’d trapped that monster within him wholly of his own volition, and he would gladly undertake the task a hundred times over if it meant protecting his brother, but he can’t deny its mental and physical toll.]

[Joshua should have been free of that malady—he certainly was from others—in this form made to traverse dreams, and yet…]

[…he has run into nothing but wall after wall. He’s uncovered plenty regarding the dangers of nightmares and noctaere, the cleansing thereof should one find oneself in possession (in all senses of the word) of one, and how to confront them, but nothing on their unique brand of affinity towards him. Or the other way around.]

[Leaning back in his chair, arms limp in an undignified spread over its sides as if defeated, Joshua huffs his displeasure aloud.]

Founder preserve me, if it is not one thing it is another.

[Lamentations thrive on woe and despair, neither of which are solutions, but they sure feel good when you’re grumpy.]

[This probably isn’t a good impression for anyone meeting him for the first time, and to anyone who’s gotten to know Joshua a little bit over the past month and a half, it’s definitely a change.]


Fortune Favors the Cave [CLOSED TO RYU]
[Joshua's heart pounds in his chest as he and Ryu stand at the entrance of the cave, the glow from the small orb of fire he’s called forth to light their way flickering against the rough, jagged walls. Shrouded in darkness, the deep cavern holds the answers he seeks to the mystery of what has happened to the Orkilins’ precious dreamotion crystals. Despite their undeniable beauty, Joshua can't shake his feelings toward these otherworldly, yet somehow familiar, gems.]

[He remembers his home, where the power of crystals was both revered and feared. They were coveted for their power to cast the magicks that only came naturally to a select few, manipulating the very essence of life. But it was that very power that slowly inched Valisthea into chaos and ruin. The Blight, its swathes of death and decay sprawling across the land like a sickness, was, as far as he and the others knew, the product of the Mothercrystals’ insatiable thirst for aether. Joshua had seen firsthand the destruction crystals could cause. It would be foolish to say this knowledge doesn’t at least partially fuel his determination to uncover the truth behind the recent thefts.]

[As they begin to venture into the cave, the walls seem to close in around them, and the echoes of their footsteps bounce off the rocky terrain. Joshua's eyes remain fixed on the crystal formations, their soft, ethereal glow casting an eerie light. He can't deny their beauty, but it's the knowledge of their potential devastation that keeps his fingers from reaching out to touch them.]

[Joshua's oddly quiet, even for someone as reserved as he is. Ryu may want to break the ice for this one!]



Wildcard!
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Comments

Fortune Favors the Cave

[amnesiadragon]

[Ryu has no such feelings on crystals, and has been in plenty of caves before. His only real hesitation towards them is a nightmare he had recently, but... it wasn't real. He hopes, at least - since some of his dreams have become real. Still, he walks confidently through the cave, undeterred by thoughts of Blight and destruction.]

[He notices Joshua's reluctance, but, well. He must have his reasons. Nina had her reasons for not liking caves too - too easy to bump or injure her wings, and her people love the sky. He isn't going to pry, but he does want to keep the mood from being too tense. He's not the best at talking, but he can at least try.]

They're pretty, aren't they?

[He keeps his voice quiet - he doesn't want it to echo and wake up whatever might be in the caves.]

[empyreancatastrophe]

[So engrossed is Joshua in trying to make sense of their surroundings that he doesn't answer right away. His eyes dart from one point of the wall to the next as he directs the ball of fire to cast its light throughout different nooks and crannies that would be otherwise inaccessible.]

[Then, Ryu's voice clicks and he turns to face his friend.]

Hmm?

[Wait, there we go. The rest of what Ryu said finally registered.]

Oh! Yes, they are.

[Joshua gazes at one of the clusters.]

An ethereal beacon meant to protect against the darkness, yet we are led ever deeper into its inky depths.

[amnesiadragon]

[Ryu's a little closer to the fire - without touching it - than most might consider comfortable, but then again he's more fire-aspected than anything else himself. He nods, understanding... most of Joshua's words.]

Uh... something like that. I was just wondering... if there was anything living down here.

[He doesn't want to make them mad...]

... I don't want you to have to fight.

[He's not unaware of Joshua's sword, and the fact that he can hold a fireball in midair means he has impressive control over fire. ... But he's also aware of how gentle Joshua seems. Ryu's known love and affection from his friends, yes, but ever since he appeared he's seen countless fights against monsters and beasts that refuse to be reasoned with.]

[He's used to it. He doesn't know anything but survival.]

[empyreancatastrophe]

[Knowing what he does about Ryu's nature, Joshua isn't too worried about him getting close to the mote, although part of him is impressed by the lack of fear regarding magic. He's still not used to that. His fellow Dreamers, however, are slowly habituating him to the concept of not having to hide his abilities outside of battle.]

[Which brings them to Ryu’s intentions. They draw a smile to Joshua’s face, somber and knowing.]

I would prefer to avoid fighting for both our sakes.

[Don’t just fuss over him, Ryu!!! Fuss over yourself, too!]

However, if it is unavoidable, I am ready and willing. Worry not.

[amnesiadragon]

[He nods and smiles at Joshua, a little uncertain but there. He's not going to question it - after all, Nina told him much the same thing. He's just worried...]

[... Though speaking of worrying, he peers at the walls. Are those...]

Claw marks. And they're big, too.

[A number of monsters flash through his mind, but... he has no idea which of them could be here. It could be anything, really...]

There's definitely something living here...

[empyreancatastrophe]

[At the mention of the claw marks, Joshua maneuvers his light so he and Ryu can take in the breadth of their depth and length.]

[Clive has brought him on a few hunts following their reunion. A bit of brotherly bonding time as they dodged claws and jaws and the occasional sword. Joshua knows the very basics of tracking various creatures, but he’s far from an expert.]

[Ryu, on the other hand…]

Can you tell which way it was headed?

[amnesiadragon]

[He's had to track down a number of creatures, mostly to help people. Cray had taught him the basics of hunting and tracking, but he's not here right now. Ryu studies the marks and makes digging motions with his hands. If the claws are pointed this way, then it's probably headed...]

That way.

[He points down the tunnel, into the darkness.]

I'm pretty sure, at least.

[He's not confident, but it's his best guess. He can't see through the darkness any better than Joshua can, unfortunately.]

[empyreancatastrophe]

[He’s more confident than Joshua is, and that’s good enough for him.]

[He begins to head in the direction that Ryu indicated, careful to tread lightly and deftly around the rocks. The walls here are nearly barren, undoubtedly mined by the Orkilins, similar to the state of the cave around the entrance, where what crystals they could find were small and bunched in clusters unworthy of harvesting. This is definitely not a weird workaround/retcon on the player’s end because she has the working memory and reading comprehension of a small rodent and forgot the description the mods gave her until it was too late.]

[Joshua pauses as another gash catches his eye. The orb of fire raises again to follow its trajectory and his brow furrows quizzically.]

Ryu, is this mark different than the other?

[amnesiadragon]

[They're still pretty. These are even prettier, but Ryu's focused now and - huh. Is that crushed crystal they're starting to tread on? The composition of the floor is definitely different. It's a little hard to tell, but Ryu has a hand on his sword and - oh. They've stopped.]

[He takes a moment to breathe and looks at the gash. It's a little hard to tell, but there's a very faint gleam on it. He reaches out to touch it - it's faintly wet.]

The rock couldn't have been out for that long if it's still wet, right? I think we're getting closer. But it does look different... not just moving dirt but clawing at the wall.

page against the machine

[belheir]

I thought libraries were supposed to be quiet.

[Comes an amused voice, not too far away. He's not that familiar with Joshua, but he thinks he might know him just enough to know that the outburst from someone who barely even raised his voice to speak over music and headphones is perhaps a little bit less than normal.

He wanders over, leaning over the back of a nearby chair to look at whatever text it is that has Joshua in such a tizzy. Something about noctaere and nightmares, from what he can glean at a glance. Not too out of place, maybe he'll borrow that book after Joshua is done with it himself.]

You doing alright over here?

[empyreancatastrophe]

[Joshua quickly lifts himself up in his chair, adopting a more stately position so he can address Kazuya in a way that's at least somewhat respectable.]

[Although there's no taking back his childish display. Whoops. The least he can do is look and feel sheepish about it.]

My apologies for the disturbance, Kazuya.

[He sighs.]

Researching the noctaere has proven to be a trying experience.

[belheir]

It's no problem. [He lifts his hand to wave it dismissively, rocking the chair a bit as he does.]

What are you researching them for? Curiousity after the Orkilin stuff? Or just your own curiousity?

[He hadn't gotten involved with the whole nightmare reactor thing, if only because he'd... More or less spent all his energy that could have gone towards doing that before it'd become an issue.

He does feel bad that he wasn't able to help, but it'd... probably been for the best.]

[empyreancatastrophe]

Both, actually.

I was involved in some incidents during the evacuation process related to the noctaere. Given the danger they pose, it seemed logical to learn as much as possible about them.

[It's probably a good thing that Kazuya didn't go down there if he wasn't in any shape to fight against the monsters that popped up. They weren't playing around. This guy here found that out the hard way.]

[Joshua gestures to the same chair that Kazuya is leaning against, inviting him to take a seat.]

Pray join me?

[Something about misery and company.]

[belheir]

[Kazuya can't help the face he makes when Joshua says the word "Pray", even if it's not even in the correct context. It just makes him think of angels, and that in turn gives him an uncomfortable feeling he does his best to shove off, turning the chair around to sit on it backwards and scooting close.

Better to distract himself than to spend too much time on an ugly feeling.]

My cousin apparently ended up fighting one of those nightmare beasts. The noctaere? I was kind of shocked when he told me, since he's not exactly the type to go out and save other people.

[He seems... pretty nonchalant about the entire thing. Naoya can handle himself, and if Naoya could take care of one of these noctaere, then surely he could do so even more swiftly and quickly.

He's definitely less concerned than he should be.]

It couldn't hurt to learn more about them though. Especially if they're gonna keep popping up.

[empyreancatastrophe]

[When that look crosses Kazuya’s face, however quickly, Joshua nearly flinches in return. He meant no offense, but he can’t tell where he’d transgressed. Maybe it was the invitation to join him? Was it too forward?]

[But Kazuya seems happy to spend the time with him, so that couldn’t be it. He’s about to ask, but he keeps quiet when the other young man begins to talk.]

Yes, the underground city was rampant with the creatures. I found myself in need of--

[…Wait…]

…Pardon, but is your cousin’s name Naoya?

[belheir]

Oh. You met him?

[Wait. Scratch that.]

He saved you?

[The bewilderment takes over just about every aspect of his body, and he sits a little straighter, only to lean in like it's some big revelation. Why would Naoya go out of his way to save someone? He's way more likely to leave and do nothing, unless Joshua is somehow interesting to Naoya.

That has to be it. There's no way Naoya would just help out some normie.]

[empyreancatastrophe]

[As Kazuya leans in, Joshua slowly recoils his shoulders back just enough to keep a comfortable space between them.]

[He’s not sure how to answer that question, so he goes with the truth.]

He… did, yes. Twice.

Once after I encountered a noctaere on my own, and once more after we battled another one together.

[He pauses.]

The second time, I was fully incapacitated following the battle. When I came to, he was nowhere to be found, although he left water.

[Kind of like a dinky participation trophy, but in the middle of a battlefield. While he was unconscious.]

Wildcard (Ice Cream Challenge)

[grandduchess_anya]

(Anya has been visiting the Creamistry ice cream parlor for quite some time since it opened. So it is safe to say that she has been a frequent customer at the place by now. When she has heard of the upcoming ice cream challenge, her interest has peaked to the point that she wants to give it a try. She is always down to do something that she would have never done in her world.

For their own health though, she had to leave Pooka the dog and Mashka the lucky rabbit at home despite them wanting to go with her so badly. She doesn’t want to get them sick by letting them eat food that is bad for them. She has arrived at the ice cream parlor, wondering if there are any more people willing to give the challenge a shot like her.)

[empyreancatastrophe]

[Joshua remembers hearing about Senku’s shop from their brief conversation back at the refugee station. Although the concept of ice cream isn’t entirely foreign to him, the good doctor had mentioned other things like ‘soda’ and what Joshua assumed were other kinds of sweets. He’s had to learn to live with a simple diet in the years following his less than voluntary expulsion from the noble life, but he had no reason to complain (except when someone put carrots on his plate; that was, is, and forever will be a non-negotiable evil).]

[So, given the opportunity to indulge in the midst of a busy few days full of research and roadblocks, Joshua takes it. He makes his way to the shop.]

[Imagine his surprise when he catches a familiar face that he didn’t expect. At the sight of Anya, Joshua’s tired eyes brighten and he bows his head in greeting.]

What a pleasant surprise!

[grandduchess_anya]

Oh hi Joshua. It is quite a great timing that we happen to be at the same place and at the same time.

(Anya waves at him, quite relieved to find a familiar face in the Creamistry at this time. She does wonder if he is also here for the ice cream challenge. After all, she took a look at some of the people trying and failing to overcome it at various points when she came here.

But perhaps two stomaches can beat this challenge that one person may not be able to handle.)

I take that you’re also here for the ice cream challenge. It seems to be attracting loads of people to come here and bravely attempt it.

[empyreancatastrophe]

[He hurries his stride to meet with Anya, coming to a stop within a step or two. Crossing his arms, he glances at a sign advertising the challenge with a quizzical glance.]

I wasn't aware they were holding a competition.

[grandduchess_anya]

Hmm… Okay. A competition involving eating ice cream. I don’t think that this is that kind of competition where people have to fight each other outright. This might be more of the type where only bragging rights are the main prize to be won.

[empyreancatastrophe]

Oh, I see.

[He’s pretty sure at least, based on what Anya is saying.]

It’s a festive means to enjoy the shop’s offerings. Have you tried, yourself?

[grandduchess_anya]

This is actually going to be my first attempt on this particular challenge. I don’t think that we have something like this in Russia at all, even if we have more than enough ice cream to feed the entire country with.

I guess that the whole population aren’t ready for them just yet.

[empyreancatastrophe]

I can attest that Rosaria has no such custom, either.

[He can't really say much about the whole of Valisthea. He also can't say that he isn't at least somewhat curious to find out now... although that's not exactly possible while his dreamself is stuck in Songerein.]

[He gestures to the door of the shop.]

That said, if you wish to join the challenge, I will be happy to act as encouragement.