songerein | [Open] Begin Anew

Entry tags:

[Open] Begin Anew

Who: G'raha Tia & You
Which: Open Log (possibly closed threads down below?)
Where: Various locations
What: A March catch-all and aetheryte shenanigans.
Warnings: There will be Endwalker spoilers more than likely. I will do my best to mark them accordingly. I need to update this for Endwalker stuff as well, but here is my opt-out post if people would rather not be spoiled about Shadowbringers or Endwalker. Feel free to fill it out to where you are in the game and I will say nothing past that in our thread.

AETHERYTES; (No spoilers beyond location in the video)

[Perhaps you've noticed a few crystal structures strewn about Reverein. If you hadn't, don't feel bad. There are only really three at the moment. One placed nearby the dream swings and the other one placed nearby stores. The last one is located outside of G'raha's home for the sake of experimenting. What are they? What do they do? It doesn't take much to realize that it appears to be made out of crystal. Mayhap from the crystal caves? Or was it something more? Simply touching it won't do anything. It appears to be just for decoration for the time being.

Well, that is until a cat boy with red hair and eyes appeared out of nowhere in a flash. He seemed composed for a time up until he collapsed to the ground, catching his fall with his hands. His breathing seemed slightly labored as he tried to compose himself.]

No... No luck this time either. Mayhap it best to further-- [Gods forfend. He did not miss aetheric sickness. Letting out a small groan before continuing his thought.] To further attune the coordinates... Mayhap adjust the amount of dreamotion as well...

[Oh. Were you standing right there this entire time? Don't mind him thinking out loud. He finally noticed he wasn't alone there. Pushing himself off of the ground, he gave an apologetic smile to his companion.]

My apologies. I did not mean to disturb the peace.

WHERE'S YOUR GREEN?;

[Having recovered from his aerthical sickness (mostly), G'raha has been otherwise occupied recently. The leprechauns weren't exactly weird-looking to him. After all, Lalafell were normally short like this. No. It wasn't the appearance that worried him. It was seeing so many unlucky people around that put him on edge. Meanwhile, there were those who seemed to have nothing short of amazing luck. Whatever the case, he had been on his guard as of late.

It all started little. Shoelaces untied that made him lose his balance, having a bag of flour explode open while at the market, flying produce? Annoying at best, but nothing he couldn't handle. And then his home turned green. Everything was green. Standing outside of his home...]

... Seriously? Did I upset someone?

[Can he clean this mess up or is it just there for an unknown amount of time? It was hard to say with how dreamotion worked here. Glancing down to the leprechaun with the yellow cap, he didn't like the look they were giving him.]

Is this some sort of message?

THOSE HALCYON DAYS;

[Having retrieved his lost job stones, it was a relief to have access to the rest of his magic. One he had been surprised to see was his Bard stone. It had been quite a while since he last touched a bow and arrow, much less a harp. There was a part of him that wondered if he could still perform properly anymore. So somewhere out in a far enough place out of the way of heavy foot traffic, people might hear what sounds like music in the distance. Not complete to say the least, but attempts to create it nonetheless.

If they chose to investigate where it was coming from, G'raha can be found somewhere outside, sitting by a tree. By now, he's managed to pick up on his innate skill he had thought once lost. Enough to be able to do a passable rendition of a song. No vocals while he's just trying to get the hang of playing once more. Anyone is free to stop by to listen.

He might even notice he's not alone and sheepishly smile to his company.]

WILDCARD;

[OOC: Hit my up for any other prompt ideas if nothing catches your fancy. If you want anything specific with G'raha, I'm more than happy to do a closed prompt as well. Feel free to poke me on plurk (byefelicia).]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He was going to ask what that was, but if she didn't remember the common tongue...]

Mmm... What does the morin khuur pertain? [Forgive him if he butchered that.] Any requests? I'll do my best to accomodate.

Oh, it's a stringed instrument made with horse hair, played with a bow drawn across them. A violin, but not. I've had a mind to build a new one for myself, but this land lacks in horses.

[But she had a strange bauble at home, one with the note that said it would grant her something from home. But a morin khuur was such a small thing, not important like a job stone... would that waste the bauble?]

Hmm... why not something from your homeland, or a favorite of yours?

Ah, I see! Are there be any other suitable substitutes that can be found here?

[Something to keep in mind, perhaps? Pondering on the possibilities, he tried to recall how the tune went.]

Hmm... It has been some time, so pray forgive any errors.

[Not that she would be able to tell. Strumming the harp, he tried recalling exactly how it went. What was more fitting than melodies that had been passed down in the family? He was no songbird, not like his lovely girlfriend, but had a surprisingly beautiful singing voice. After finishing the song, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.]

Oh, maybe one of those large violins that you have to prop against a leg... Could work.

['Cello' wasn't a word she heard much. But he asked forgiveness and she sent him a look and a smirk- he needed to look elsewhere for a harsh musical critic- before he shifted gears to playing.

Miqo'te hadn't been a frequent sight back home in the Far East, so of any legends, songs or folklore she knew very little. She was profoundly interested in this glimpse, but the impish humor didn't last long. Instead her stomach twisted into a first, second and third knot as she recalled something she'd confided in an old friend during her childhood in the Steppe:

"Is it Qalli of me to fall for a man that sings...?"

But he was telling a story, one that jingled with that familiar tone of something that fathers told sons, or mothers told daughters. It made her heart ache, wishing for just a moment that her own parents had left anything like that for her.

But stories, like many things, had to come to an end. G'raha had finished and she scooted closer to lean against him, rest a cheek upon a shoulder. Hopefully, her angle could hide the blush. No angle could hide the clovers and blossoms that had grown a little ring in the grass around them.]

...Thank you for sharing that with me. You did fine, you know. And from a Qalli, that's nothing to sneeze at.

[In case you doubted yourself, sir.]

[He hadn't gone this long without realizing what it meant when flowers popped up around them. He could notice a hint of that blush, but it just made him feel more at ease (as if he wasn't already) to know that she was happy. If she was happy, he was. Whether or not she could take notice of his ears or tail from that angle was up for debate. He set the harp (carefully) off to the side so that he could turn his full attention to her, slipping his hand into hers as he entwined his fingers with hers. Laying his head gently against hers as if to return the gesture...]

I am pleased to hear that then. It was... something that had been passed down to me as a boy. It has been some time since last I played. Mayhap I should pick it up once more for old time sakes?

[Also to play for her whenever she wanted it.]

[Something passed down? The tale was more important than she realized, then. Perhaps based on true events? Surely she should commit it to memory... but she would need to hear it a few more times first. She gave his hand a little squeeze.]

Mm. I would love that. A song is a wonderful means of expressing one's self... but, would you enjoy it? It's a very big step out of a lot of people's comfort zones...

[Dreams were dreams, but he shouldn't push himself into something for her sake. What she'd heard would last her a lifetime.]

I don't mind. It's really just not something I am use to anymore. After 300 years, I didn't think I'd even see this stone again.

I had considered picking up archery once more, but it didn't seem as useful.

Oh, but archery! A beautiful sport, and a silent way to hunt. Saves you a lot of magic, too, Mr. 'Mass Levitation Spell'.

[Oh, but he'd paid his pound of flesh for that. Bedridden for some time, according to the chart that was notched to his bedroll. Who do you think was on the chirurgeon team overseeing those injured from the strike on the Tower of Zot?]

...But floating must have its perks too, I admit.

[Oof... That hurts. Why do you have to bring that up? It's true though.]

It...has a few...

[Ears twitching and tail flailing behind him. Did she also hear the reason why he started to learn it in the first place? Gods...]

But would archery have spared so many lives?

[The one time he acknowledges that he had be helpful, considering how many times he insisted he wasn't anything special.]

[Oh, you silly thing... she brought a hand to that tail and stroked it. There there.]

Not to that degree, no. But I mean that there's uses for archery, and it never hurts to have a backup if your main strategy isn't working.

[She paused, swore, and hid her face against his shoulder.]

Ah, sorry. You've run an entire city with no doubt advanced defenses and measures against an ever-shifting manner of foes. Changes in perspective and 'strategy' have been the name of the game for my dreams of late, so I suppose it bled into... being inadvertently condescending.

[Shaking his head as he gave her hand a light squeeze and an apologetic smile. This was simply a discussion, nothing more. He didn't mean to make her feel like she'd said something wrong.]

You have not come off as condescending. You make an excellent point. I just wanted expecting you to mention the levitation spell.

[He didn't even realize she was there helping those during the assault, but how could he when he was unconscious for a while? And then he had an idea. Mayhap it would lighten the mood?]

Actually... There is something I wanted to show you. I recently discovered it and thought you might enjoy it.

You did a lot of good, Raha. The matanga were forever grateful not just for the rescue, but the softened fall. It wouldn't have helped any of them if they'd broken their poor necks falling upon their salvation.

[The Tower was a massive operation. Even if she were a regular old so-and-so, there was no doubt a wider call would have been made for experts in healing to handle so my patients at once- Radz-at-Han could only handle so many.

She lifted her head.]

Hm? What'd you find?

[He was silent for a moment taking that in. He knew that and yet found it hard to just accept that he actually did something useful. Not that he didn't before that time either.]

I was just relieved that I could help and that everyone was safe.

[After a momentary pause, he got to his feet and offered her a hand up with a smile.]

You'll just have to find out when we get there.

[Ooh. A surprise. She smiled back as she took his hand and rose. So curious was she that her tail was a-wigglin', despite still working on getting the feeling back in it.]

O mysterious Exarch... you'll have to let me know when to close my eyes just in case. Goodness knows with my luck I'll tread on my own tail or something.

[Making sure to pack up his harp carefully and bring it along, he began to lead the way with a light squeeze of her hand.]

Well, that just wouldn't do. It would be a shame to ruin the surprise, but even more so if you trip. [Kneeling down] Hop on.

[A chance to be taller? How could a girl say no? But pardon her as she took a moment to 'consider' the offer by fondly stroking his ears before she climbed on. He was low enough for her to do so, and again, who was she to say no?]

I hope the added height doesn't get to my head. Who knows what ideas I'd get?

[Ears twitching in response, at least it didn't take him by complete surprise now. He sort of just expects it from her by now. His ears and tail were a little more sensitive and she's pet both so far today. She's on a roll.

Once she was on, he secured his hold on her as he rose to start walking.]

Considering the ideas you get already, I should be worried about what goes on in that pretty head of yours. Now, no peeking.

Edited (NOW I'M DONE EDITING HUFFS) 2022-03-08 21:27 (UTC)

Hmhm~ My head is very pretty, thank you. Yours is quite lovely as well. My mind is an enigma within a puzzle wrapped in mysteries! ...And a cookbook.

Oop- [She tucked her face against where his neck met his shoulder.]

Not peeking! ...

[Her grip on him softened, wound inward, more of an embrace than simply hanging on. Any prints G'raha's shoes left in the grass and even the cobble seemed to spring those same clover blossoms, dewy and sweet.]

...You're very warm...

[He recalled the rose garden being nearby, but he was fine with taking his time to get there. So he may or may not have been walking slower than needed. There was simply just closing her eyes, but this was much more endearing.]

I do enjoy puzzles and especially mysteries.

[Alas, no matter how much slower he might have gone, the rose garden was hard to miss with the red and white roses around the park.]

You can open your eyes now.

[Whatever pace he took, it allowed her to hold him for just a little bit longer. With her face tucked thus, she couldn't pick up the telltale aroma of roses in their sweetness... but she kept the remark that he smelled nice to herself.]

Gotcha- Oh...!

[She lifted her head and felt the goosebumps rise. Upon uttering a breath of wonder, she could at least voice her confusion:]

Wha- when did something like this get here?!

[Surprise successful.]

I know naught the exact time it showed up, but I can say it was fairly recently. [They weren't here before then.] I came across it a day ago and thought it would be something you'd like to see.

Oh, Raha...!

[Arms fully around his middle for a squeeze.]

It's amazing! Have you been inside it yet?

What? And go in without you? Not a chance. [He waited patiently to share the moment with her.] Shall we then?

[As if she had the choice with him carrying her, he'll enter in, taking in the sights. It was warm, though mayhap more related to the fact that it reminded him of her when he saw such beautiful flowers.]

[You're a gentleman and a scholar, G'raha Tia. She nodded, raring to go, and marveled the sights beyond the front gates.

It had always been said that roses had their own fragrance and she wasn't sure exactly what that might be. She'd cooked with rosewater, but any of the flower she'd seen were the stray bunch here and there. Surrounded by them now, there was no mistaking it; the warm sun opened them wide, and the dream bees were already hard at work spreading pollen all the while. It reminded her that in just a few weeks' time, she'd get her hands on jars of precious gold, and wondered if dream bee honey was as legendary as the faeries say.]

I wonder what made this...? I should very much like to know who to thank.

[She nestled her chin upon his head. Never has she been so tall. Save for a few curious others investigating the gardens, the world was nothing but the occasional buzz of a bee or the rustle of a breeze through the greenery. Silence hung otherwise.]

...If I'm ever not home or at the Lady of Bliss, I think you'll know where to find me.

[She spoke hushed, as if she may break some relative peace if she hadn't.]

I will do my best to inquire about the origins then.

[Not that he was likely to find an answer, but he has no problems looking into it. As they made their way around, various rose colors popped up; Though whether they were there prior to their arrival or not was up for debate.]

Can't say I blame you. I'm glad you like it. [He knew she would.]

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