songerein | I've been shaking, waking in the night light

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I've been shaking, waking in the night light

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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[ He doesn't seem surprised whem he's called out that something is bothering him too. He drums his fingers again, a little faster than before, as he silently considers his options. To tell or not to tell. To share his very much lived and current experience, or wait and see if something might be a little too similar in an already similar situation.

Ugh. ]

A bit. [ He says, after a long stretch of silence with his gaze just about anywhere else. ]

I'm just kind of worried. If you saw Naoya fighting, then you know he uses demons. [ Is what he settles on. Not quite revealing the whole truth. ] I just wonder how similar the Noctaere are to them, and what it might mean for you to have absorbed some of said noctaere.

[ He can't ask more pointed questions about the situation, despite how much he wants to. Was it cold? Did it make you want to fall to your knees? Did you feel powerful, for even a moment? Are all thoughts he has swirling around in his head.

[Joshua listens, waits, and observes, making no motion towards trying to pull any information out of Kazuya. The nervous drumming doesn’t seem to faze him or his patience.]

[He hums in thought.]

I cannot be sure.

[His hand comes up to his chin again as he tries to recall what exactly happened that day. Some of it is fuzzy, blurred by fatigue and pain, but there are some key details that manage to come to mind.]

I remember that Naoya’s demons did not incite the same reaction in me as the noctaere.

They wouldn't. They're under a contract and bound to him. It might be different if it was a wild demon, though.

[ "Might", hah. ]

From my understanding, demons and noctaere might not be all that different. Especially when it comes to negative emotions.

Ah, yes. He mentioned the contracts as well as the device he uses to call forth the demons. It’s similar to your orche—pardon, your MP3 player. Larger.

[He lets that stew for a bit, considering a few different possibilities.]

Although I sensed no negative energy akin to that of the noctaere, you could be right in that the contract seals it away.

That still begs the question if it is its own type of power, or if it is based in nightmares. If the former, then your cousin may be safe. If the latter, then I know not the potential side effects.

Ah, yeah. The COMPs. I have one too.

[He nods, patting his back pocket where he keeps his. Not that he needs it, it's more of a safety blanket after everything.]

I wouldn't say a contract really seals anything away when it comes to demons. It's more that they just can't hurt the summoner, and they have to obey you.

[They're pretty happy to still be lethal where needed...]

Naoya will be safe, no matter what the outcome is. [He waves his hand dismissively.] I won't let anything bad happen to him.

[Joshua watches Kazuya carefully, noting the conviction in his words. He can't help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern about these mysterious powers, but he knows better than to push too hard for information. He'll push casually, as one does.]

[It helps that the topic of family is part of the conversation. From the sound of it, Kazuya and Naoya care about one another, or at the very least what happens to one another. That's heartening.]

The two of you are confident in one another's capabilities.

[He smiles fondly, as if thinking about something else for a moment.]

[It's his brother. He's thinking about his brother.]

If I may, have you used your--COMP, you called it?--to summon demons here as well? Mayhap the experience will provide more clues if you have.

[He nods to the observation. Naoya has... been at this a lot longer than him. Where Kazuya has the raw power and strength, Naoya has the millenia of experience and knowledge. They work well together, and Kazuya trusts Naoya with his life.]

I have... A few times, actually. [Though it had been far from life threaten reasons. More out of convenience than anything, and then once to save Naminé from her strange gum bubble. That'd been back when he first arrived, though. Same with using Culebre to help get his headphones back.

... And then Cabracan to help with that, though that demon was summoned from his own will.]

Why, did you want me to summon one of them so you could check them out?

[Initially, Joshua wants to refuse. Kazuya shouldn’t have to inconvenience himself for the sake of his curiosities. A simple explanation should suffice.]

[But if Kazuya summons the demon, then Joshua can see firsthand if it pulls a reaction. When he was with Naoya, he was already in pain, so that wasn’t a good point of reference.]

[This time could be different.]

[Just as long as it doesn’t cause any harm to Kazuya.]

That isn’t a bad idea. As long as it wouldn’t cause you any trouble.

[He considers their surroundings.]

…We should also step outside.

[ He tilts his head a little as Joshua suggests that they take the summoning outside, before realizing that yeah, a library isn't the best place to be summoning any demons of any kind.

He shifts and stands, turning the chair back to its proper position and under the desk. ]

Won't cause any trouble at all. Promise.

[ And he means it. That's just how it works, being the absolute king of all demonkind. He does pause momentarily though. ]

Do you have a preference on which kind I summon?

[Joshua follows suit, taking the time to neatly stack the books he'd been perusing before placing them into his bag. He's gotten into a cycle of taking a couple of books home with him and then bringing them back within a couple of days.]

[As they ready themselves to leave, Joshua thinks Kazuya's question over.]

I'm not very familiar with your repertoire.

As long as it is something that will not attract too much attention, then whatever you feel is best will suffice.

[His... Repertoire. Well, technically any demon is his repertoire, but he only has two in his COMP. Neither of which are... particularly small.

Kazuya rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.]

Um... I think either of them are pretty attention grabbing, if I'm honest. I know Naoya has a smaller demon, but... I don't, exactly.

[Could he summon a different one? Yeah, sure. But that's not one from his COMP. The same COMP he grabs from his pocket regardless, tapping a few buttons on it to ready.]

They're both pretty large. Not huge, but large. Culebre is a dragon, and Cerberus is a beast.

Please forgive my assumptions.

[That said, he gives the available choices due consideration.]

["Beast" is vague, but dragons are overly dramatic, in his experience. Then again, at least he has that experience. It would help keep his reaction neutral for that reason alone.]

Mayhap the dragon?

[Shockingly, Kazuya would say it's the beast demons that are more dramatic. But that's neither here nor there, because Joshua makes the choice, and in a few more button taps, Culebre appears, winding its thin body around Kazuya's protectively.

He wasn't kidding when he said the demon was large.]

Hath my liege summoned me to remove this pathetic creature from his sight?

[It also is looking down at Joshua like it's considering whether or not he's a threat, though it's also clearly waiting for some kind of order. The atmosphere is... Only a little oppressing.

Kazuya, for his part, winces apologetically at the demons words.]

No. Just. Stay there. We're testing something.

[For his part, Joshua takes the not-quite-insult with relative aplomb. He has his pride, sure, but it's not so weak as to feel threatened by such a remark.]

[Also, dragons gonna dragon.]

[He allows a few moments to pass as he takes in their surroundings. Oppressive atmosphere aside, he feels... nothing. Rather, nothing different than usual.]

No reaction thus far.

[He glances up at Culebre. The demon is large, but Joshua is grateful he isn't larger.]

May I ask for a demonstration of power?

[Well, the fact he feels nothing is at least something. Good news, hopefully, and at the request, Kazuya nods his head, and then looks up at Culebre. Who somehow manages to look a little offended that its king is playing nice with humans, but the contract remains, more binding than that of Kazuya's sovereignty.

The demon pushes off of him, and surprisingly, Kazuya doesn't even stumble as Culebre uses him as leverage to take to the air. A mist escapes it's mouth only seconds before the attack is made clear:

Exceptionally large shards of ice rain down, pieces the size of cars hit the pavement with loud crashes around them until they're within a veritable shield-wall of ice. That of which the creature perches on proudly.]

Doth that demonstration suffice, human?

[... Kazuya really hopes so, quite frankly. He's going to have to bust out the fire spells to get them out of here. What a petty creature.]

[Surprising, indeed. And then there’s that juxtaposition between how Culebre addressed Kazuya compared to Joshua. “Liege” is a term Joshua has heard often as a prince, and later as a technical archduke. Its use didn’t really surprise him. But to hear it against ‘human’ piques his interest.]

[Either these contracts are far more formal that he’d originally thought, or there’s more going on here. He’ll bank on the former, as to assume more would only cause needless complications.]

[There’s enough to think about already, with that impressive display. Again, Joshua waits before responding as the dragon preens (typical…).]

Still nothing.

[That’s a confirmation meant for Kazuya. For Culebre, he makes sure to lift his head and offer appropriate respect.]

Thank you for deigning to humor the request of a human such as myself. I will not forget your generosity.

[Still nothing... That's a relief. His shoulders slacken a little, and he gives a small smile at Joshua to acknowledge that. It's good that there isn't any pull or feeling of negativity just because of a demon being around.

Though that should have been obvious a little more from the get go, he thinks.]

It's only helping because I told it too.

[And he's stuffing Culebre back into his COMP before the creature can retaliate verbally, though it does puff up a little in offense while simultaneously looking cowed, like it cant decide between indignation and being admonished, before it's confined once more within the device, which gets tucked back away in his back pocket.]

Sorry though. Most demons are pretty rude if you're not the one holding their contract. And even then... [Some of them can be particularly willful.

Kazuya knocks his fist against the ice wall trapping them in, and laughs a bit.]

Well, you can see.

[Joshua waves off the apology.]

As one should expect from demons, I imagine.

[Is that stereotyping? That might be stereotyping.]

Thank you for agreeing to showcase their power. I’m relieved that they don’t carry the same power as the noctaere.

[The ‘for your and Naoya’s sakes’ is implied.]

The Genma types are pretty nice, thankfully. They actually care a lot about humans and protecting them. [Yes, he is thinking of Kresnik and Mari, and how even if technically they had been in a contract, he'd gone above and beyond to protect her.

If Kazuya would classify any demon as "Sweet", it'd be him. He'd definitely trust Kresnik with the general populace.

Still, Kazuya pauses for a moment when he says that, and he has to wonder, at least momentarily.]

It could also just be because Culebre isn't a particularly strong demon, so there wasn't really any reaction.

[Well, not strong in the grand scheme of things, comparing to other demons, anyway.]

I could try another demon? [He's mostly muttering this last part to himself as he thinks, hand to his chin as he considers:] Maybe Murmur or Yurlungur or Garuda?

[Maybe... Not Murmur, since Fallen demons are so... unpredictable. Yurlungur might be a little too big for being trapped in the ice wall like they are. Garuda though... Kazuya's used him before. The demon is haughty, but polite. And certainly strong. ]

[The idea of a 'caring' demon is so foreign it's nearly shocking. The idea that Culebre isn't considered strong, given what he'd just demonstrated, is actually shocking.]

[But perhaps even more shocking is the utterance of a familiar name. One that, although not quite an embodiment of terror, does make the hairs on the back of Joshua's neck stand at attention.]

[Before he can request that Garuda not appear, Kazuya already commits, and Joshua braces, but for what, he's not entirely sure. There's no chance that the Garuda he knows, the Eikon under Benedikta's control, could or would appear. But the name itself is enough to pull a reaction that gently brushes the edge of fear and settles easily into 'concern'.]

[The summoning this time is unlike that of the COMP, it's a swirling dark and tumultuous portal, crackling with red electricity and whipping wind, but... it only half forms.

It stops the moment that Kazuya can catch the scent the almost-fear. It won't ever not be weird, especially since it happens to be such a strangely enticing-sweet smell, but it's distracting enough that the will to pull a demon like Garuda through to this place is halted, and a few seconds later, the portal just kind of... fizzles away anticlimactically.

He blinks at Joshua, eyebrows furrowed in not confusion like he doesn't know why the summoning stopped, but concern.]

Are you alright?

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I've been shaking, waking in the night light

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