vatheon | 10th Combo - When the Bow Breaks [I regret no puns. /o/]

Entry tags:

10th Combo - When the Bow Breaks [I regret no puns. /o/]

Who: Lloyd and Equius
Where: Starts off as video, will progress to action shortly... somewhere?
Style: [action]
Status: Closed

[It's been a while since Lloyd talked to Equius, not since that curse where he'd become so strong he'd broken things he'd only meant to touch. Ever since that curse wore off, though, Lloyd's been practicing. What had first started as a technique to keep Vegeta from breaking his swords suddenly held a possibility to help someone else, someone Lloyd can empathize with now personally.

Finally, now, he thinks he's ready. Time to put it to the test. It's only a matter of giving Equius a call.]

Hey, Equius!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hello, Lloyd. How are you?

[Equius remembers their earlier conversation, but he doesn't want to be the first to bring it up.]

A lot better, actually. Everything's back to normal, so I'm not breaking everything.

Speaking of which...

[He can't help but pause, drawing the moment out - but a moment is all it lasts before he breaks into a grin.]

You remember that technique I said I was working on that would make it harder for someone to break something?

I do. How has it been going?

[Please say it's been going well! He's inwardly spazzing a little at the very idea.]

[Yeah, if he wasn't already grinning, he definitely would be now. As it is, his grin widens.]

Why don't we meet up somewhere and you can see for yourself?

[Oooooh, that sounds encouraging! Equius offers a very small half-smile in return.]

I would like that. Where do you want to meet?

[Lloyd hadn't really sat and planned this in advance, so he has to actually think for a moment about that. Even if he's pretty sure he's got a good handle on the technique, they probably ought to still go someplace away from other people. Just in case.]

How about the forest?

[Plenty of things there to practice not breaking. Unless...]

You should bring something to practice with, too.

Okay.

[Good thinking, Lloyd; Equius was going to suggest somewhere far from civilization too.]

What do you think would work well?

[Considering all the things Lloyd broke during that curse, he's got plenty of ideas for things he really wishes he could have held.]

You could bring a glass or a plate, or maybe something with a handle, like a hammer or a broom. Something most people grab and hold onto, but you can't because you'd break it. We can start off with sticks, but I figure if it works, we can try with something, you know, normal.

That's a good idea, but...

[If he could carry those fragile things, they wouldn't need these lessons, would they?]

Do you think you could bring something?

[But there are ways to carry breakable things without actually holding them. Get a blanket, Equius!

Or that. Leaving it to Lloyd works, too.]

Sure. I've got a hammer I can bring, and plenty of cups.

[And if those break, he can replace them.]

Anything else?

No, that sounds fine. I'll meet you in the forest soon.

[Click! And with that, Equius heads towards the woods, a spring in his step.]

[Lloyd turns off his SFC as well, then picks up a bag to put a few things in. A hammer, some cups, and on a thought he adds one of his carved figurines. Then he takes off, heading to the forest as promised. And if there's a bit of excitement in his steps? Well, hey, who wouldn't be looking forward to helping out a friend?

Now, where are you, Equius?]

[It doesn't take Equius long to find Lloyd--that red coat kind of makes him stick out--and he walks right up to him. He is a man with a mission today.]

Hello.

Hey!

[Lloyd grins and waves, setting his bag on the ground.]

You ready to get started?

[He's pretty sure he already knows the answer, but, you know, just in case.]

[Equius nods back, although he can't help but be amused by Lloyd's enthusiasm.]

I certainly am.

[He eyes the bag.]

So how does this work, exactly?

Well, first we practice with sticks, just to make sure I've got it right.

[And there's plenty of sticks to choose from. Lloyd bends down to pick one up.]

You can't break mana with your hands. Not like you break other things, anyway. So if I take this stick...

[He holds it up like he'd hold his sword, concentrating on his mana. A faint shimmer of energy starts to form around him.]

And if I take my mana and put it inside the stick, almost like a second stick, then you'd have to break the mana if you wanted to break the stick.

[The energy shifts as he focuses it into the stick in his hand, until it's condensed enough that the shimmer disappears. Then he holds the stick out toward Equius.]

Go on, see what happens if you touch it.

[Very carefully and awkwardly, Equius takes the stick from Lloyd, using the balls of his fingers instead of letting it roll onto his palm. Sticks are hard; even when he's being very careful, sticks are hard. But this one...]

It's not breaking.

[It's hard to keep concentrating as excitement races through him. It's one thing to practice a technique like this. It's something else completely to get to put it in action.]

No, it's not. That means it's working! Okay, just keep holding it. I'm going to let go.

[Carefully, he releases the stick. This will be the tricky part. His eyes never leave the stick as he focuses on keeping his mana steady even without the physical contact.]

[Equius keeps holding the stick, his touch light and his eyes wide. He glances up at Lloyd and his mouth quirks towards a smile.]

It's still not breaking.

[Man, this is so cool, what a great technique!]

[Is this what Raine feels like whenever she casts Sharpness? Maybe not. Sharpness is magic, after all, not just mana, and she never seemed to need to concentrate to maintain the spell. Once it was cast, it was cast.]

Try swinging it a few times. See what you can do with it. I'm going to get something from my bag.

[And test the limits of his own ability to concentrate. After all, it'd be bad if he can't hold the mana if he ever gets even a little distracted.

He kneels down to pull out the cup.]

[Still moving gingerly and being careful, Equius gets a better hold on the stick and starts to tentatively swing it back and forth. He's able to hold it, at least, which is a major accomplishment!]

How are you doing this?

Everyone has energy inside them called mana - or at least they do in my world. Most people can't do very much with it, but if you have an Exsphere equipped, your mana gets stronger and it's easier to use. I'm using my mana right now to kind of... make a second stick? It's inside the stick you're holding, though, so if you wanted to break that stick, you'd have to break my mana, too. That's nowhere near as easy.

[He doesn't have that many things packed in the bag, so it only takes a moment to fish the cup out. It's a cup made of glass - very breakable. Lloyd isn't done yet, though. Unhooking his canteen from his belt, he starts to fill the cup.]

Hey, Equius, you thirsty?

[Does he want to try drinking from a glass?]

[Equius listens to the explanation, nodding and swinging his stick back and forth, gradually getting braver and more daring with it. When Lloyd asks if he's thirsty, though, he glances over, sees the glass, and his face immediately blanches of color.]

I'll break it.

[He has so many scars on his hands from trying to hold glasses, you don't even know.]

No you won't. You're not breaking that stick there, are you? I can do the same thing with this glass.

[Lloyd holds out his hand, projecting an air of confidence.]

Here, give me the stick. I don't think I can do two things at once.

[Equius hands the stick back and waits, his body radiating tension and nerves.]

I hope it's not an important glass or anything.

Nah, it's just a normal glass. I can always get another if it breaks.

[Lloyd sets the stick down, letting the mana fade from it, then takes a deep breath. He's not used to concentrating this hard, even though he has been practicing with this technique. Another breath, then he focuses on the glass.

...okay, this is tricky. The shape is completely different, and the glass is filled with liquid. Energy shimmers again, tinting the clear glass an ethereal green. Lloyd frowns, not sure if he's keeping the mana clear from the water. After a moment, though, he decides it probably doesn't matter. It shouldn't hurt Equius either way, and it might even make him feel better.

He holds the cup out for Equius to take.]

Okay, go ahead and try it.

Edited 2012-07-15 16:41 (UTC)

[Very slowly, tension writ all over his face, Equius reaches out and takes the glass. He also drops it, in his reluctance to touch it, and then ends up simply balancing it on his palms.]

[Lloyd watches, holding his breath...

...only for Equius to just let it sit in his hands?]

No, come on.

[He reaches out for the troll's hands. If Equius doesn't move, he'll take the cup in one hand and one of the troll's hands in his other, pressing the cup into his grip.]

You can do this, Equius. Dwarven vow number sixteen: You can do anything if you try!

You think I haven't tried before?

[The words are snappish, but Equius' tone is terrified. He freezes when Lloyd touches his hands, forever petrified of hurting people by accident, and holds perfectly still as Lloyd takes them and folds them around the glass.]

[He can hear that terror in Equius's voice, undercutting the snap in the tone. He can see it on his face, in the way he lets Lloyd move his hands, and Lloyd can remember all too well what it was like to be that strong.]

I'm not saying you haven't tried before. I'm just telling you to try again. Even if you've done it before, you've never tried it with someone using mana. So...

[He holds his hands around Equius's for a moment, then slowly releases him, letting him hold the cup on his own. As calm as he's trying to sound, though, beads of sweat are forming on the sides of his face from the effort of concentrating, keeping the mana in place. Still, he offers his friend a smile.]

Just trust me.

[Lloyd's reassurances pay off, and Equius relaxes a fraction. He lets Lloyd shape his hands around the glass, then stares at it like he expects it to spontaneously combust at any moment.]

It's not breaking.

[Thank you, Captain Obvious.]

No, it's not.

[He'll just agree amiably rather than point out that of course he knew that.]

Go ahead. You can drink from it. I'll let you know if I start getting too tired.

[Just ignore the funny tingle of mana that might get into your mouth.]

[Very slowly, Equius curls his hands tighter around the glass, wincing the whole time like it's a ticking time bomb, and brings it to his lips.]

[He drains the glass, ignoring the little tingle on mana on his upper lips, then lowers it, still unbroken.]

[The look he shoots Lloyd is almost painful in its gratitude.]

Thank you.

[He's having to take deeper breaths at this point, and he's almost beginning to tremble, feeling the drain from holding a mana technique for so long, but it's worth it. It's worth it to see that gratitude.

He smiles, holding out his hand to take the empty glass back.]

You're welcome, Equius. I wish I could do something that would stick, but...

[But that's way beyond him and he knows it.]

It's not much, but I can do this again, if there's something else you want to hold sometime. I know what it's like for you now, so... I'd be glad to help.

[Very carefully, Equius hands the glass back.]

I've never done that before.

[He says it simply, baldly; it seems an easy thing, but having someone else who understands, who gets it, and who isn't Darkleer... it's refreshing, and he's feeling more confident and happier with himself than he has in a long while.]

Thank you again.

[Lloyd exhales slowly, trying not to show his relief too much as he lets the mana fade away. He definitely needs more practice with that technique if he's going to use it that much.]

I think that's about all I can handle today. You wanna go get something to eat?

[Eating usually helps him get his energy back. He's feeling a little shaky from the effort. He also wouldn't mind spending some more time with a friend.]

[Equius smiles. He likes Lloyd, and after that miracle experience, he wants to spend more time with him.]

That sounds great. Let's go.

[Tucking the glass into the bag he'd brought, Lloyd straightens up.]

I know this place that serves these things called hamburgers. You just eat them with your hands, no forks or anything. If you're thirsty, you can get something in a paper cup. It's great, and you wouldn't have to worry about breaking anything. Even if you get something you need fork or a spoon to eat, the ones they give you are made from something weird that just bends if you're not careful. I'm not sure what it is, but...

[And off they go, Lloyd chattering amiably.

All in all, it's been a good day.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

10th Combo - When the Bow Breaks [I regret no puns. /o/]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

Want to fade out from here?

seems like a good place to fade!

[scene end]