Joshua Rosfield (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
empyreancatastrophe) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
songerein2023-10-09 10:54 pm
empyreancatastrophe) wrote in songerein2023-10-09 10:54 pm
Entry tags:
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!
[Want to do something different? Write a starter! Alternatively, hit me up via PM, via the game discord, or at my plurk:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
goatlegs]
empyreancatastrophe) and your characterWhich: 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!
[Want to do something different? Write a starter! Alternatively, hit me up via PM, via the game discord, or at my plurk:
no subject
[But then, a subtle smile creeps across his face as the unique flavors reveal themselves. Vanilla first, with its gentle, almost bland sweetness. It's like a polite introduction to this frozen realm of delight. Joshua takes another scoop, and his eyes widen with curiosity at whatever this flavor is. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Apple? He's not sure, but he is sure that each new spoonful, moving quicker and quicker, is a revelation.]
[Soon, he's practically inhaling his ice cream, his hands a blur as he attempts to sample every flavor simultaneously, like a culinary speed demon.]
no subject
Anya has certainly been familiar with vanilla ice cream in her world: There used to be plenty of them being made in her family’s palaces so it is a very familiar flavor. Once she is done with it, she soon faces a flavor that she did (sort of) suggested to Senku some time ago: Coffee Caramel Twist. Not too bitter but not too sweet, it does taste like having iced caramel latte as far as Anya can pinpoint the flavor profile.
Taking in all the delicious flavor with every breath smells really good as she finishes the coffee caramel ice cream and feasts on the sea salt ice cream, a flavor that she certainly has never seen or tasted before. There is a noticeable salty flavor to it but it is not that bad.)
no subject
[The creamy texture that melts in his mouth, the cold touch of the ice cream that refreshes him, and the variety of flavors that make his mouth water. It's a feast for his senses as much as it is for his stomach. And as he digs deeper into the mountain, he can't help but let out a content sigh.]
[This challenge is worth it.]
[For the moment, at least.]
How goes your conquest, Anya?
no subject
(She informs him as she finishes through her sea salt ice cream. The ice cream itself is really good despite not being familiar with it before this challenge. Overall a really nice new to her flavor.
As she digs deeper into the ice cream tower, she encounters another flavor that is very new to her. It tastes like apples, but there is also cinnamon in it. She is trying to figure out what flavor seems to escape her mind. Clearly she never had apple pies at home, but hey this is also a good one as well.)
no subject
I am glad to hear it.
[And then he turns back to his own mountain.]
[He lets the cold, sweet goodness course through his taste buds, his expression falling from happy to numb, courtesy of the freezing temperatures.]
[Suddenly his mind goes blank; a dull ache forming at the back of his head as he looks around, unsure of what had just happened.]
no subject
(She stops in the middle of the ice cream eating when she sees him going numb all the sudden. Are they all eating the ice cream too fast? Is there a way to stop this feeling from keeping him in this state?
Anya is hoping that she hasn’t fallen victim to that feeling just yet as she tries to get Joshua back to reality to no avail. Hoping to find a good way to get him out of it, she returns to the counter in hopes to find a cure to his frozen numb feelings.)
Um hello. It looks like my friend is currently frozen in place at the moment. Is there anything we can use to help him out today?
no subject
I’m alright.
[Sort of.]
[Whenever he’d had iced sweets as a child, he was under the scrutiny of royalty and their staff. He always had to take delicate bites that didn’t allow for issues like brain freeze. This is his first time dealing with it.]
It’s only a headache. I’m sure it will pass.
[He's definitely had worse.]
no subject
Anya goes back to her and Joshua’s table and resumes her ice cream eating as if nothing unusual has happened. Just a mere headache, nothing odd about it at all.)
Um, okay then. It’s back to finishing this challenge again.
no subject
[Related, he tries his hand at copying Anya, taking another spoonful of ice cream, and swallowing just a bit slower than before.]
[Unfortunately, he still has the lingering effects of brain freeze, even if not entirely as bad as when it first settled in. ]
It is... really not pleasant. It seems the only way to eat this is small bites.
[Which is a shame! He’s enjoying it!]
no subject
(She is more than willing to accommodate for the brain freeze poor Joshua is going through, so she is going to take her time on a leisurely route as much as possible.)