25th Combo - Rune Crest

[redcladidealist]

Who: Lloyd Irving and castmates/CR who would be aware of the Rune Crest stuff going on
Where: Winespring Inn and forge
When: Today, morning and evening
Style: Either!
Status: Closed... ish? If you feel you have an IC reason to stop in, feel free!

Note: Please mark in the subject whether you are tagging before or after the making of the Crest. The actual forging of the Rune Crest is going to be handwaved to help simplify things.

Before

[Anxiety flutters in Lloyd's stomach as he carefully gathers his tools. Today is the day. He doesn't think he can prepare himself any more than he has. He doesn't feel prepared, though, especially not when he knows he's going to have to remove his own Key Crest. Before he'd become an angel, that wouldn't have been a problem. A Key Crest applied before an Exsphere was attached ensured that the Exsphere never rooted itself so deeply that the bearer's mana became irremovably entwined. He'd taken his Exsphere off before, to no ill effect, and if he'd wanted to, he could have removed the Key Crest after that. It would have hurt, sure. Key Crests weren't meant to be easily removed. But it wouldn't have done anything worse than maybe leave a scar or two.

Now, though... Now he can't remove his Exsphere, not without risking his already unstable mana going out of control. With his angelic transformation, the Exsphere has become too much a part of him. Unfortunately, the Key Crest has to come off so that they can attach the Rune Crest to it. For however long it takes him to do that, he'll be a ticking bomb. They'd made plans to help prevent the worst, but still! Worry eats at him. If the worst happens despite everything...

He swallows. I should go warn Mat.]

After

[One breath. Another. He's not sure if it's safe to feel relief yet. Sitting on the porch of the inn, Lloyd closes his hands. Opens them.

They're shaking.

Another breath. And then another. How will he know? How will he know if the Rune Crest works? Afternoon light glints off the newly forged metal, the runes carved in it both foreign and familiar at once. He knew a lot of the basic runes, learned from Dirk since he was three, but some of these he'd had to copy from Colette's crest, had to trust Dhaos's word that they were good. If even one stroke of a rune was off, though, how would it hold if he ever had reason to really put it to the test? What if something went wrong?

One breath. Another breath.

I'm scared.

At the same time, though, he was strangely elated. The advanced metalwork that he'd just done...

I made a Rune Crest myself!]

Comments

[Very much after]

[stickinthemud]

[Yuan is late to the party and, for that matter, unaware that there even is such a proverbial party. With the way he's been keeping to himself ever since he arrived, he hasn't heard anything at all about the progress on the Rune Crest. Still, he likes to think that no news is good news. If they'd needed his help, they'd know where to find him. Or, well, Kratos would.

Either way, he just happens to be passing by later in the day when he spots Lloyd. That red shirt isn't hard to miss. There's a moment of hesitation before he decides to step towards the boy.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd hadn't really told many people what he'd be doing today, or where. Mostly it was just the people who'd had a part to help out with, though he'd told his roommate, too. He hadn't spoken to Yuan, so he isn't expecting him. Something tickles at his mind, though - that same funny feeling he'd felt with Duke a while back. Maybe half a breath before Yuan steps forward, Lloyd looks up - and blinks, surprised.]

Yuan? What are you doing here?

[stickinthemud]

[The way Lloyd voiced that is almost offensive, but really, Yuan shouldn't be surprised. Kratos's son has proven himself very adept at being blunt already.]

I'm headed for the library. [And taking a wonderful detour through the city while doing so.] What are you doing here?

[redcladidealist]

I work here.

[He gestures toward the forge off to the side. Still eyeing Yuan, he shifts his shoulders against the half-felt itch.]

Are you doing something with your mana?

[Blunt and to the point - kinder than saying he completely lacks in tact.]

[stickinthemud]

[Ah, right. Lloyd was apparently raised by a dwarf. Figures he'd spend his time in a forge. At least it's a productive thing to do while he's stuck here- Yuan has yet to find any way to make himself useful.]

Doing something? [He repeats the question with a quirk of the eyebrow. He's not entirely sure what Lloyd is getting at, here.]

[redcladidealist]

[Well, if he's desperate, he could come be Lloyd's bellows assistant. Lloyd would definitely be able to give him a chance to bellow, anyway.]

Yeah, you know. Preparing a spell or... or something. It's like I can feel you right there.

[His brow furrows, frustration at being unable to describe or explain what's going on evident on his face.]

[stickinthemud]

[Yuan's lips quirk into a bit of a smirk. He's reminded of young children with elven blood who don't yet know how to manipulate mana. Of course, those sort of children would be one or two years old.]

That would be your angel senses. Have you received a Rune Crest yet?

[redcladidealist]

[...don't let Lloyd hear that comparison. He wouldn't appreciate it.]

My... angel senses?

[He echoes the words, startled, as though he hadn't thought about that.]

Well, yeah, we just made one this morning. Wait, you mean I'm really just sensing you?

[stickinthemud]

Yes, you are. [He crosses his arms over his chest, still smirking.] Has Kratos truly not told you what to expect from this transformation?

[redcladidealist]

Well, no, but... I didn't... [His cheeks turn pink.] I didn't... really ask. [And now he's feeling like an idiot because he should have.]

[stickinthemud]

[Oh Lloyd. Yuan shakes his head lightly.] It'd be wise to do so. You may run into more problems later and the last thing we need is to have you destroy half the city because you don't understand what sort of power you're dealing with.

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd's head jerks up, no small amount of alarm flashing across his face.]

Wait, what? What do you mean, I might destroy the city?! I'm not that strong!

[stickinthemud]

[Well, this is what happens when Yuan attempts humor.]

I was only joking. You would only damage a few buildings, at the most.

[redcladidealist]

['Only damage a few buildings.' That's still an alarming thought!]

But I'm not that strong either! Maybe I'm a little stronger now that I'm an angel, but it's not like I know any magic! I can't cast Grave or Judgment!

[stickinthemud]

Every angel can cast a specific type of magic. Just look at the Chosen. The fact that you aren't familiar with this kind of power is exactly what makes it dangerous.

[redcladidealist]

So you're saying I might just... just explode with magic someday? [His stomach churns queasily.] I might cast a spell without realizing what I'm doing and take down everything around me?

[stickinthemud]

Not if you know what you're doing.

[Yuan didn't expect it to cause Lloyd this much concern. Though, this is something the boy needs to know and it's exactly why Kratos should've prepared him.]

[redcladidealist]

Then how do I learn?!

[Sure, he's wished sometimes that he could cast magic. How cool would it be to say "burn to oblivion!" and throw fireballs at monsters attacking him and his friends? But it's only cool if he's in control! He doesn't want to destroy everything around him!]

[stickinthemud]

It's not that difficult. Kratos mastered it in a matter of weeks.

[Still, Kratos is a faster learner. There's a reason they give these powers to Chosen Ones one step at a time. Lloyd received the full spell collection in one go.]

[redcladidealist]

[Despite the fact that Lloyd's no longer quite as surly with Kratos as he used to be, it still rubs him a little when Kratos's strength and ability is pointed out - which may be exactly why Yuan is mentioning it, not that Lloyd would realize that.]

He did?

[He frowns.]

If he could do it, I can too, right?

[The anxiety is still there, but now it's been muffled by a flare of his competetive streak.]

[stickinthemud]

Yes, you can. I suggest you take lessons as soon as possible.

[With great power comes great responsibility, Lloyd, as does it come with acquaintances who'd rather not see you blow up a building.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd grimaces at the word "lessons," reflexive from a learned dislike of school, even if he knows this isn't exactly the same context.]

I'll talk to him about it.

[Just... in a few days. He's still a little too keyed up to deal with Kratos's brand of teaching.]

So, uh...

[stickinthemud]

[He noticed that grimace, but if anything he's amused by it. To think this is Kratos's son...]

So, what?

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd shrugs.]

Now what?

[He's not entirely sure how to talk to a Yuan he has a truce with.]

What were you going to the library for anyway?

[stickinthemud]

Research. [And he'll leave it at that. Not because he's trying to hide what he's researching, but because he doesn't like Lloyd sticking his nose in his personal affairs. As childish as it sounds, it's the principle of the matter.]