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THE BOUQUET ESTATE - TEIS' LAB - EARLY MORNING
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Teis had barely slept, having spent much of her night researching and then setting up her lab for Gareth's arrival. She's waiting for Gareth to arrive inside her lab, while muttering as she goes over yet another series of checks on her equipment and mana gems. Her other experiments/work are shifted off to the side, the ant farms notably taking up some space.
Gareth arrives a few minutes before the arranged time, knocking on the door to what Jax, the gate guard, said was Teis' lab. He waits patiently, hoping that the two might at least shed a bit of light onto this... magic business he's been dealing with.
Teis startles in her lab, quickly making her way to the door and opening. "Ah! Yes. Gareth." Teis nods, giving him a flickering, somewhat manic smile. The fact that she'd barely slept seems visible across her face. "Come in, come in." She ushers Gareth into the lab, to a table set up in the middle of it.
Gareth follows Teis in at her urging, only to note that the feline seems weirdly hyped up. "...Please tell me ye at least got a bit o' rest, lass. I can defend meself perfectly fine without knowin' what this magic does. Been doin' it fer a couple o' decades, after all."
Teis: "Not much. It's fine, not unusual. Did this all the time back in school. Sometimes assignments are hard, okay? Don't judge." Teis rapidly speaks, "Besides, turns out we might not have much time to figure this out. I got a message from Dorri today. She found the camps that Louma talked about, so Nesseth's gonna be gearing up for that. I mean, he said he's taking his time, talking to the others, but still. Limited time."
Gareth tilts his head curiously, but nods slowly at Teis' reasoning for the lack of sleep. "Huh... so they found out where our targets are, eh? Good, that speeds things along a bit. Then... what do ye need to me to do, Teis?"
Teis: "Just, ah. I've got a few things I can maybe run through. I'm hoping one of them yields something." Teis grabs her greater mana lenses from the wall. "Some you just need to sit still, yes. We'll start with those. Probing magic." Teis puts on her lenses, flipping them down. "So. . .Just hold still."
Gareth nods as he stands still. "Right, I'll just follow yer lead, then."
Teis begins with a swathe of physical instruments, magitech instruments, and scrying spells. Her goal is to learn as much as she can about the magic within Gareth as she can, to better inform her preliminary tests and to rule out any possibilities immediately. This process would take the better part of an hour, with lots of touching.
Gareth stands about as still as he's able under the scrutiny of Teis' testing. He's not really sure what to make of it, but doesn't really raise any fuss as she pokes and prods at him with various instruments and spells, even if the scrying spells in particular feel a bit... weird. At the very least, the magic isn't concealing its nature as being 'attached' to him, in that the magic isn't his own, but under the examination, it's also not really doing much of anything noteworthy other than just being there.
Teis starts the process enthusiastic, especially before the scrying. During and after the scrying however, Teis is left sighing and muttering to herself. "Yeah. . .Knew that already. . ." She whispers to herself. She steps back from Gareth, pacing a little. The magic hadn't really revealed to her anything that she can particularly use to focus her efforts. Just that the magic is there, but what is it? "Right, get up. Time for the more active tests." Teis instructs. She moves into trying more direct spells on Gareth. Small versions of her frost rays and telekinetic abilities, including telekinetically throwing small things at Gareth. Things that, were the spells stronger, would certainly be capable of doing damage, though these weaker ones less so. She's trying to tease any kneejerk reactions out of the magic.
Gareth hums and nods as he follows Teis' instructions, even if they mostly just involve "stand still while I throw or cast stuff at you". The frost ray seems to cause some minor discomfort the longer he's exposed to it, but that's probably expected from just low temperatures in general, and it probably doesn't help that his clothing is extremely good at insulating him. He's not sure what to expect when the feline starts lobbing small objects at him, but he does manage to rather deftly snatch a few out of the air just on reflex. At no point does the magic manifest, but then... none of the stuff thrown seems dangerous or imminently life-threatening, unlike Usid's explosive arrow or Annika's (illusory) knife.
Teis becomes a little bit more frustrated the more evident it becomes that the magic in Gareth does nothing to speak out to her. She instructs Gareth back to the table, heading for her mana crystals. She takes one of the empty mana crystals from the prior day's training, and a small amount of fresh ones. She floats the fresh ones next to her, taking one in one hand and the sole empty one in the other. Then, she prepares herself, with a familiar incantation originally used for a blind lizard friend. She sizes Gareth up, starting the incantation, the charged mana crystal in her hand quickly draining as it powers her spell in an attempt to channel some of Gareth's magic out of him and into the crystal.
Gareth starts to idly scratch his chest a bit through his outfit as a weird sort of discomfort starts to cause his body to tingle a bit. The magic that's clearly not his own appears to be somewhat stubborn, however, and clings to his being as Teis tries to draw it out. She does manage to pull the tiniest of bits of it from him, but whether it's enough to discern a purpose or not remains to be seen.
Narrator: The singular strand of wispy mysterious magic flows from Gareth into the mana crystal. Teis ends the spell after burning through three mana crystals to power it, having made a promise to herself, Tarbin and Della that she'd not repeat that same mistake again. She brings the crystal up to her face, sourly looking at it as the wispy strand within dances as if to taunt Teis.
Teis sighs deeply. "I guess it'll have to do." She concedes, her mood starting to visibly seethe as she grits her teeth, clutching the crystal tighter and tighter to the point of her hand shaking slightly.
Gareth blinks as the weird sensations fade, and he lets his hand drop back down to his side. Curious, he moves a bit closer to Teis and leans in to look at the wisp of magic suspended in the crystal. "Huh... so that's what magic looks like?"
Teis: "Mmhmm." Teis unhappily hums back to Gareth. She places the crystal down on one of the nearby counters, barely containing the desire to simply throw it across the room. She glances up to the remainder of Tarbin's cursed crystals safely stored away behind the glass cabinets, narrowing her eyes at them. She then looks around at her other projects in her lab, then finally, down to the empty mana crystals floating next to her and the one in her hand. Her anger seems to fade into a deep sigh as she contemplate the empty mana crystal, but then it suddenly sparks back up as she throws the crystal into the ground, shattering it. The residual power left within the crystal crackles and pops like a firecracker, causing it to fracture and disintegrate further in a chain reaction until there is nothing left of it.
Gareth starts as Teis lobs the empty crystal at the ground and hops back a bit as it starts to disintegrate. As the shards disappear amidst the crackles and pops of wild magic bursting its bonds, he looks up at Teis with a raised eyebrow. "Was that supposed to be part o' the testin' process too, or...?"
Teis simply looks at the ground, the floating crystals next to her spared her tired wrath, silent for a few seconds before responding, "No." She continues to look at the ground where the crystal formerly was for another moment. She sighs, looking to the floating crystals and directing a finger at them to float the crystals to the relative safety of the counter.
Gareth 's eyebrow rises a little higher at that statement. "No? Then what was that all about? Ye managed to extract some o' this magic, right?"
Teis: "Yes. But it's barely anything. And I didn't stay up all muffin night to be stonewalled." Teis, surprisingly calm in tone despite the outburst, takes off her mana lenses and puts them away.
Gareth shrugs a bit as he crosses his arms. "Somethin' is still better than nothin'. Not like ye didn't manage to get anythin' out o' the process." He gestures at the crystal housing the bit of magic Teis managed to pull from him, "I don't know much about magic at all, but that's still somethin' worth lookin' at, I'm pretty sure."
Teis: "Of course. But. . ." Teis sighs, shaking her head, "Look, nevermind. This is the best I'm going to get today. Hopefully I'll have something for you before you leave. You're free to leave." Teis begins to clean up around the lab, putting her tools away.
Gareth hums thoughtfully, then nods as he uncrosses his arms. "If yer sure, Teis. Ye know where to find me if ye do come up with somethin' o' note. Sorry this magic's bein' a bit difficult, lass." He turns to take his leave, though he gives the feline one more look, "Just... take care o' yerself."
Teis: "Mm. Thanks for coming anyway, Gareth." Teis nods, pointedly keeping her focus on her cleaning efforts. Outwardly, she ignores Gareth's closing concern, internally thinking that she's getting tired of hearing that.
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MAY AND LOUMA'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
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Louma has been spending more of her time at home than she ever thought she would. She missed this house, after all, as well as it's other occupant of course. And she doesn't want to disappoint Plume by going out and straining herself, even though her injuries have scabbed over enough that she's stopped wearing most of her bandages. She had spent some time out front in the morning, at least half an hour before returning inside to the safety er... Comfort of the house. She's just coiled in the kitchen now, nibbling at the leftover pancakes from breakfast. Probably the second-last portion their stock of flour would manage.
Xochi has been spending time close to the training grounds as things get ready to go, the Captains insisting if she is to go, she at least have some survival lessons. As a result, she's also been hearing things from the guards. One of which was the return of Captain Louma not long ago. Although she'd hoped to catch the captain there, she'd yet to see her there, but as she's preparing to head out with the others, she wanted to make sure to visit Louma before she went. She slithers towards her home, giving a gentle knock upon the door as her tail wraps up behind her.
Louma looks up from her plate at the door, finishing her mouthful of pancake and brushing her feathers clear of crumbs as she heads for the door. She straightens up and quickly preens her head feathers before opening the door, smiling brightly when she sees Xochi waiting there. "Ah! Xochi, it is wonderful to see you, my friend. How have you been? Please, come in!" She backs away from the door, leading the way to a sitting room with very few chairs, though the Southern sun streaming in through a large window makes it a pleasant place for scaled folk to coil up and bask.
Xochi smiles kindly as she gives Louma a bow, before following her into the home. "It is wonderful to see you as well, Louma. I am sorry I had not come to give my thanks for your safe return earlier! Things have been very busy, as I'm sure you know." She smiles at the feeling of sunshine upon her scales as she curls up into place. "Mmm. This feels good. My own home is lacking such a space, but I suppose I make do with the little garden."
Louma giggles quietly as she nods. "Oh yes... The Guard are preparing for an exceptionally dangerous task. I regret that I'm not going, but... Well, relieved as well. That last part does not feel good. Would you like some tea?" She quickly shifts herself from a topic that likely wont change, all things considered, and she instead turns to the kitchen and hastily sets the kettle to the stove. She returns to the sitting room shortly, though not coiling up while they wait for the water to boil.
Xochi nods, smile fading a little. "Tea would be most lovely yes." She watches Louma turn away and put the kettle on and return. "I do hope it is not too difficult to talk about, friend. I came today as I wished to see you were healing in body... and in spirit."
Louma looks down at her tail with a slightly strained smile, patting an injury that's scabbed, but not sore any longer. "Well I was pretty lucky that they landed nothing critical." She looks back to Xochi, the smile faltering a bit. "As for in spirit... No longer being lonely has been wonderful for that. How has your garden been doing, by the way? And Kira? I haven't had a chance to catch up with her after coming back." Another rather obvious attempt to change topics.
Xochi watches Louma carefully as she speaks. "The Garden is well, and Kira is as well, though I worry for her." She sighs, "I know, this may be difficult to believe, Louma, but... I know how you suffered. I heard it night after night while you were gone..."
Louma pauses, her smile slipping further as she turns a bit away from Xochi. "...What does that mean?"
Xochi sighs, lowering her head, "None know this... save Aktzin, my old friend, and Nesseth. As a child, I heard... voices. Indistinct, but full of meaning. I spoke to them. But as I grew, they faded. Perhaps due to my own isolation from others. Whatever the case... I heard your voice, Louma. I could not make out the words, only the feelings driving them." She pauses a moment, looking more thana bit disturbed by this as well, "Did you... pray, while you were there?"
Louma crosses her arms in front of her stomach, feeling a bit of a chill run down her body as she looks away from Xochi. She doesn't answer for a few seconds, and her voice is quiet when she does finally say, "Yes... Every night. For everyone's safety... For May..." She is barely above a whisper at the last couple words, the growing whistle of the kettle threatening to drown her out if she keeps getting any quieter.
Xochi nods quietly, giving Louma a moment to gather herself before she raises her voice again, "Yours was the first I heard... perhaps because I know you, or because we are kin, of sorts. I cannot say." She looks very old in that moment, older than scales folks tend to look even as they age, "It has not been the last."
Louma turns toward Xochi, ignoring the kettle for the other snake. "You're serious... You heard my prayers... And the others." She considers this for a few moments, letting out a slightly derisive laugh as she turns away toward the kitchen. "Well, you are a Coatl. A god." Her hands shake from her nerves as she sets the kettle to the side, setting some tea to steep in a pair of cups.
Xochi shakes her head emphatically, "No. I am no God. I am hardly even Coatl anymore. I am just an old snake. One who finds her faith... tested." She glances at Louma sadly, "I should not burden you with this. It is mine to bear. But... I suppose... I almost wished you had said no. Then I could dismiss it as merely my way of... coping."
Louma sighs, picking the tea cups up and turning to slither back to the sitting room, setting the two teas down on a side table for now before she curls up at the edge of the sunlight. "I am sorry, I don't want to be so cruel, Xochi. I heard you helped point Nesseth in the right direction... Thank you. I would have been killed by Nyzai if not for the scouting party." She bows her head to Xochi for a moment. "I'm also sorry for that burden."
Xochi sighs. "You have no reason to be sorry. It is merely how I serve penance. If any part that I played helped to bring you home safely, then I am happy with the results." She closes her eyes, then decides that perhaps it is best to change subject. "Your other is doing well? Maybelline?"
Louma nods, somewhat relieved that the topic is finally shifting, though her mood has been thoroughly laid in the ditch for now. "Yes, she is very well. She has been making some incredible progress on the shield, from what I gather by her excitement. I don't actually understand half of what she talks about when it comes to magitech, but her joy in it is contagious." She lifts her teacup to her bill, taking a long sip before her curiosity gets the better of her, sighing and speaking with a quiet tone, "Do you... Still hear the others? Are they..?"
Xochi is quiet a moment, eyes still closed. She takes a deep breath and smiles at Louma, "I do. Some are louder than others. Some familiar, others not. Some are close by, even. They pray for much the same things as you. Safety for others, for loved ones." She laughs a little, "I somehow doubt they are all praying to same Spirits as I would, to the Moon, and the Sun, and the Ancestors. But I heard them just the same. I... do not know why."
Louma nods, setting the tea down again. "That gift must be hard to bear in times like these... I don't envy you. Thank you for being strong for us all, Xochi. And for being a good friend." She looks to Xochi, recalling something from when she'd arrived back in town. "I heard from Nesseth, by the way... You plan on heading out with them? With the guards?"
Xochi chuckles, "I hope to be a good friend... yes. As for strength..." She looks out the window. "I do, yes. Nesseth took me to one of the meetings, and I pleaded my case to the Captain's, and the Commandant. They've agreed to let me at least attempt to negotiate."
Louma shudders again, but does not forget her promise to Tizza. "I would like peace... Most of them are not on the side of their violent leader... Please be careful, though." She glances at her tail, then back to Xochi. "You're a longer target than I."
Xochi chuckles, "And slower too, no doubt. I have little training, and even less manueverability, as you well know." She considers a moment. "This reminds me... I... confided in Nesseth. It was both harder, and easier, than it perhaps should have been, but perhaps it went better than I imagined because he already knew."
Louma grimaces, looking aside. "I... I am so sorry..." She bows her head. "I failed to keep your secret from him..."
Xochi continues to laugh, "You failed? As he explained it, he discovered this on his own. Perhaps you simply kept from doing something reckless? I cannot say, but he took the time to get to know me. Not what I am, but who."
Louma nods, but doesn't feel any better. "I know he respects you... But that night, when Aktzin followed me to you, I caught Nesseth in his roost... He suspected it on his own, but I confirmed it that night... I failed you twice in one evening..."
Xochi thinks back on that night, "A good deal of failure, that night, from all parties involved. Had I not failed Aktzin long before then..." She shakes her head, "I did not bring this up to make you feel bad. I brought it up because... I question the use of such a disguise anymore."
Louma slowly looks up to Xochi, hesitating slightly. "I mean it's not my place... If you feel safe doing so, if it would make you happy..." She thinks about it for a few moments longer, something falling into place in her mind. "The... Ones on the mountain. They're feathered, yet somewhat reptilian... That is why I think I was brought to their village rather than the mines... You may be just the right 'negotiator'..."
Xochi blinks, "They are? How curious... if that could be used as a leverage to peace, then I would gladly cast off my disguise..." She settles into silence, taking her tea cup at last to take a thoughtful sip. She and Louma slowly resume their conversation catching up on more pleasant topics, as they both think on, or avoid thinking on the strange new information they've shared with one another.