Esoterica Petitio

Log Info

• Title: Esoterica Petitio
• Emitter: Slixvah
• Characters: Slixvah, Patch
• Place: Wayfarer's Inn
• Time: August 30th, 2022
• Summary: Within a busy night of the Wayfarer, Patch catches dinner with Slixvah. The former seeking a break from the madness of everything going on. Patch requests aid on some magical mishaps going on, and the egalrin witch is all too eager to lend a hand with that. Having said that, Slix lends an ear for some much needed venting before they get into a game of cards for the eve.

Wayfarer's Inn, Evening

A discussion over dinner? Vaguely magic related? Hook line and sinker, Slixvah was /there/. Lingering around this establishment meant for hunters and woodsfolk is that of an eglarin woman clad in tons of ribbons from every color in the rainbow. She's got a table to herself and a singular empty chair, a book open as she munches on some jerky bought from a vendor that closed up shop for the day.

It's energetic in here, plans being thrown about on how the common folk were going to be going back home soon. Good news all around. And good news it was gold right now.

Sky blue eyes squint at the book. "... who... writes equations like this...?" she chuffs, sighing and fishing out a pen. Making her own additions. Though, glances are stolen to the crowd, keeping watch for a certain individual.

It wouldn't be long before the door to the Wayfarer slides open on its own. It's a bit of magic, something that Patch found in her blood when she was wee girl. A moment later, she's pausing in its frame, looking about the inn and raucous that comes from the energized and liberated people. It brings a smile to the elven woman's face, stepping in with a flick of hand and a single word to send the door behind her closing with little noise. "Fine." for those who listen.

The people's discussion has her ears twitching, the news of the wights juicy, and bringing with it hope. Even to Patch. "Oh, this is good to see!" weaving through the late crowd to find friend or seat, or perhaps both.

The egalrin perks up, her not really catching the words on the buzzing air, but instead spying a glint of blond and a hint of wine face. "No you!" she fires back, just barely hearing her friend's words. "Patty! Over here! Saved you a seat!"

Said seat is shoved out with a foot, and her book is stashed away.

Slixvah mutters something into a hand, a feather vanishes in a poof. And a moment later water is brought over.

Patch pauses in step, turning to look for that voice. Finding Slixvah, she squeezes between two patrons, and quickly changes course. "Slix! Hey, I didn't know if you'd be here." she calls as she gets a bit closer. "This is night is better than good, great even."

That kicked out stool is picked up with deft hands, and situated close to the Egalrin, a brow raising at the water with a smirk. "Oh, aren't you being thoughtful." taking her cloak, and draping it over the edge of her seat before sitting down. "How are you? How's Fidah? I didn't see them earlier, but.... Pothy and him aren't beasties, so I left it alone."

Slixvah smiles as Patch sits in close. "Yeah? How ya mean shug?" she inquires, sliding a glass of water over to the elf as a wing unfurls to wrap around the other gently. "I'm doin' great! I get ta get outta the city without much worry now. Get to see some cool stuff! I went on a long walk and got lost! It was great!"

She tilts her head to the side. "Fiadh? Oh! They's good. They's..." Slix looks down at her robes.

"I'm asleep," comes a dry, tinny reply.

"They's asleep!" she giggles.

"Oh, good. I am glad they are alright, even if asleep." Patch muses at the reply of them both, smirking as she pours herself a cup of water, doing the same for Slix. When the wing is felt, Patch's smile changes, warmer as a hand rises to caress feathers and ribbons, head dipping so they can brush lightly against her face. "Wait.. LOST?!"

That caused the bard to laugh, shaking her head and snapping out of her cuddle. "You have to tell me about this adventure sometime." a glance over at the red-hued woman. "Sorry about earlier. I was meeting Seldan Padaryn about this study. I had been looking to inform and invite you too, but I... I didn't realize you'd be here of all places today." she explains with a sheepish pull of her lips and features. "It's wonderful though, pleasant company to have an evening."

The wing is glad to provide, wrapping and draping over like a warm blanket. Slix's expression, too, warms. Only for a moment, as it breaks into a snickering laugh. "Totally lost! That's alright tho! I'll gladly tell ya!"

She waves a dismissive hand. "Nah, it's coo' no worrie-" She pauses. "Wait. Seldan? Like... /the/ Seldan?" She leans in, brow cocked to the side. "... das a big name. What knots you tugging at, goober?" she teases, poking the elf in the cheek playfully.

"But, yeah. Good company for reals." Another feather gets pulled out of seemingly nowhere, more muttered words into it, and it goes away with a >paff<. "Hungry? They ain't got much right now except deer stew."

"Seldan isn't just /a/ big name. He's a really nice guy, Slix. His husband is wonderful too. He and I have been discussing things since we met a while back in the woods." Patch says with a bit of a flush as Slixvah makes a production over the man's name, but her smirk grows. "Yeah, he was interested in the study of the Sea of Mana outside the city that I'd like to conduct." she explains. "He's very formal, charming... and not too bad on the eyes. Though he's manage to piss off about every house in Llyranost, so maybe I'm just seeing the bad-boy image." her tone coy and teasing.

"I am hungry! Thank you. Deer would be fine. It's fair game, and it's not too bad." she reasons, pausing to look at Slixvah, and shrugging. "It's beef. Beef makes me feel bad. I think cows are too precious to eat."

"And I am glad you found your way out... though it seems to be far less dangerous at night. The good news is spreading fast."

Slix lets out air from her nose. "I know there's to a person than just a name," she snorts. "I just know that he's a powerful guy with some weight. And, well, if /you/ say he's none too bad a looker, I wouldn't mind lookin'."

Sip of water. "Respectfully of course, he's a married man." A giggle.

She nods her head once, muttering something off to the side as whatever magics she was using was still in effect. The admittance is met with a tilt of the head, but her Patch-free shoulder shrugs once. "No probs! And I getcha. I'll keep tha' in mind fo' later," she hums, mentally filing that away.

"Tha good thing about flying is if you get lost, you just go up, up, up until ya see somethin' familiar. And Alexandria is /big/. Not to mention the mountains. Non-sequitur of me, but-"

Two bowls are dropped off at the table, and Slixvah's eyes gleam with a vested interest. "... what's this about study of a Sea? Hmm?"

"Uhh, yes.... married." Patch again flushing, but a wave of the hand before her dismisses the thoughts. "I am sure he will like you well enough." she muses.

"Oh, business? Sure, let us get it out of the way." Patch grateful for switching topics there, smiling as a hand takes up a spoon to stir at the stew. "On a guild venture, we witnessed some things go terribly wrong outside the city. We used an anti-magic field scroll on the top of the hill near the northeastern crossroad? It worked, it suppressed and slowed the mana sea. Ya follow? It was all smooth sailing until the damned scroll wore off."

"When the magic was through, the waves of mana that flood the area were unlike anything I had seen. My hair stood on end, and the spot where Elyanna had stood was left charred. She and Culix were injured something good, and the blast was just... raw mana." Patch seeming to be sure of her observations. "The guild is going to declare something about casting magics in that area, but... truth be told, I don't want to leave it alone, Slix." Patch admits, her nature seeming to be nosing at things, this situation being no different. "I think something is wrong or changing the area and its leylines."

Slixvah gives her a squint before the dismissive hand abates her playful tease. The ex-wizard's other side comes out. That calculating, thinking, scheming mind whirring behind a soft expression. It's racing, going out in all different kinds of paths as Patch explains further.

And the first words out of her mouth are- "That's all sorts of wrong," she comments, looking to the table before her. Her stew is pushed away, hunger didn't matter at present, there's shit to learn. "Anti-magic, it... don't do that. Anti magic is like... like..."

She shoots her glass of water back, picks up the pitcher, and pours a slow stream into her cup. "Magic flows like this. When ya make a spot in the land have anti magic, it does this-" Slix sticks a finger into the flow. As expected, the water hits her finger, sticks to the edges, then flows off the other side. "Just goes around it. But that makes it sound like it was... damming up? That's..."

She sobers, setting the pitcher down. "... not... good," muttered quietly, pensive.

"Exactly!" Patch says, smirking wider. "So you see where my thoughts are going. It's not good at all, but I can't leave it alone!" her excitement rising as she pokes at her stew, taking a bite and chewing. Yes, she's excited about a bad thing. It's new. It's a mystery.

"So, I don't really know where to begin, but I am putting together a team of 'specialists'." the tone of her last word emphasized in play. "Mikilos Mithralla, Seldan Padaryn, and you. I want you to work on this with me, but I know it might interrupt your paper. So I had been wary to ask until I knew I wasn't being crazy about it all."

It is new. It is a mystery. And what does Slixvah dabble in? Things that are mysteries and shouldn't be dabbled in. Hell, that's her whole profession. "Why would you!" she opines in agreement. "That's... there's so much to learn from that!"

Though, the notion of her being on a specialist team makes her face floof up in full. "M... me?" she points to herself. Yes you! Stupid bird! "I, uh, yeah! Absolutely! I mean, I gots that paper ta work on, but I still need sources. And if my weird ways can eek out some info, that's jus' even betta!"

Though, her building excitement is stymied as her logic side kicks in, and she's down to her stew, eating at it idly with a few bites. Leaning against Patch. "There's a theory, about everything is connected in a grand Tapestry," she says soft, echoing what she's mentioned before in the past. "If... that thread there is... wonky. Where does that thread go? What's go it chuffed up? I know some weird shit happened with the moon some time ago. And there's the thing with the mul'neissa, and..."

She looks to her hand. Fingers slowly curl into a fist. "... my gut tells me somethin's wrong, I can feel it."

"As does mine. It's not just a simple thing either. Every bit of research I did told me we need to have a proper study, and get it done quickly...." Patch's snort stopping her words. "Well, as quickly as a proper study can be done. It's a chance for real academic work in the field, and I am glad I was right in thinking you'd want to help. It seemed up your alley." which is true, she's glad to offer this tidbit for the other woman.

"That would be the woven hymn, Slix. The powers that fuel creation, and turn energy into form, and power. Seldan talked much like you, and worries of what could of caused this discord.... and what the change means for us."

Slixvah's knee bounces under the table, her beak grinding in thought. She affords a quiet laugh. "It's a lot ta learn from it, fo sho. I love learnin' new stuff, especially if it's a bit risky. Can only learn so much in a sterile environment, ya know?"

A few more bites of stew, then her attention drops down to the wine-stained face beside her. "Like that of the gods, lot of different things explain the same concepts," she hums, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind a long ear. "Ta be frank, it /is/ worrisome. Like... my magic was carved out when Eluna and Taara had their spat, and Animus went poof. I'm already on unstable footing. I... really, /really/ hope this ain't a sign of such a thing."

The air feels heavy. The eglarin has never looked so... serious? Pensive? Worried? Such expressions don't cross well on such a face, but her feathers on her visage are pressed tight against her. But then, she waves her hand away in the air in front of her. "But! It could just be some localized goof!" she laughs, trying to clear away the tension. "I'll gladly help ya wit' this. If not for ya, it'll also be to keep an eye on that tall lanky boi Miki-too-long-name with this biz. He's powerful, but kind of a fool."

"Damn. You and Seldan would get along well. He and I discussed this very thing. The loss of Animus, and...." Patch says with a heavy sigh. "It's good then. It seems I approached the right people, all of us on the same page about such a thing. Alaryn bless them, wanted to try to make see if it could be weaponized." her tone dropping with those words.

"I'm hoping it's something small too, but I wanted to do things right, and be sure before we go telling everyone else." Patch admits, and finds herself nodding of the talk of Mikilos. "It is why I approached Seldan Padaryn too, Mikilos is no friend of his, but I can trust Seldan to help us with keeping him on task, and not... yeah. Being a fool."

The idea of weaponizing such a thing makes Slixvah's crest feathers pop up with a >boing!<. "What?! She- What? Does she not understand the ramifications of a resonance cascade with literal /raw/ mana??" she breathlessly exudes. "It's like... starting a fire next to a literal pile of alchemist fire!"

She shakes her head and rubs her face. "It's fine, it's fine," she sighs. "Yeah. You's bein' smart about this. I like that. And I like the fact you looped me in on this. I'm in, full send. My esoterica is at your disposal."

Her eyes soften. Tone matching it with a warm hum. "But, this in mind. How are /you/, Pattie?"

"It could also lead to blight." Patch points out, a hand rising to press on that crest feather, smirking at it with a but of amusement. It's not played with long, another had moving to smooth the feathers of cheek. "I feel your concern, I voiced as much too... it's more a fight of philosophy and reason, but I want to make sure we act, more so before others do." her tone again dropping when she speaks of the matter. "Thank you, and I am glad you'd like to help. I hope it makes up for me volunteering you for wedding things."

"As for Patch, she is well.. mostly." The elven woman's tone dripping a bit with some gloom. "Angry mostly, and thinking of Blar. Lots of small things on the mind, Slix. Some things reminded me of home, and I am... hurt more than I should be." being completely honest about herself. "I shall survive as always, but the mind will be fickle a while."

"Yes, it can lead to blight," Slix sighs, but its cut off from the crest being pushed down, popped back up, then pressed again (on her own accord). Her face nestles into the hand on her cheek, a happy sound humming in her chest. "Yeah. Better ta get a handle on it befo' it gets bad." Her eyes squint in amusement. "I woulda helped wit' that anyways, but I suppose that makes up for it," she teases.

The question answered honestly makes her relax, and the wing around Patch tightens slightly to be a warm coat fully. "The mind is fickle, but it can assuage one ta let it vent out," she coos. "Thank ya fo' tellin' me what's on ya mind. I've been ta Blar a few times, it's a unique sorta place, what's got ya thoughts on that?" she inquires, tugging at that smaller knot.

"I watched a remembrance of the Sendor War, and then thought about how home used the Veil and her power to hide during the worst of it. People starved, and many died, Slix. Blar suffered in the absence of Alexandria, and...." Yes, Patch admits the Veil of Llyranost is alive, but she doesn't dwell on that. She just leans into that wing's comforting embrace, bumping Slixvah with a shoulder. "I am angry at Mikilos for siding with home when they came with their delegation. They're still here, waiting and watching, and I don't like so many eyes reporting to Llyranost."

"I could bore you with more, and include my dislike of their politics, but just know I am saddened, and hurt at new revelations. It'll be gotten over, but home is a place I never like the news from."

Oh goodness. That's a lot. Slix's brows pinch as a hand slips behind Patch and rubs her back, the wing giving its own hug in a blanket of feather. "My my, hon..." she croons soft. "Tha's much ta think about. And certainly can set one's mood afoul. I can't imagine what's that's like for a lotta old dust ta get kicked back up like that for ya..."

She hums quietly for a spell, looking to their stews. Hers almost finished. "You could bore me more, but I find topics with you rarely as such. I, sadly, know politics too well. And it's frustrating ta deal with." A beat of pause. "Perhaps... something to take your mind off things is needed?" Slix suggests, throwing that out there.

"Well, that's also why I wanted dinner." Patch says with a smile tugging at the edge of her lips. "Time with you seems to make many things feel better, and..." soon rubbing her face against Slixvah's cheek, kissing her underbeak with a soft sigh. "You're a great comfort."

"So, what do you have in mind? I am all for a distraction." Patch muses. "What shall we get up too?"

Slixvah's eyes crinkle in a smile, it furthering with a floof of her face at the peck. "I'm oh so glad I can provide, sugar," she coos, wrapping an arm around the elf's shoulders. Lots of feathers, very snug and soft. She nudges Patch's stain cheek with her own, a happy chirp slipping out of her.

The question makes her scratch her cheek. Well, Patch's cheek, as her face was smooshed against the other's. "Hmmm. I didn't think that far. We can... go frolick? Eh, too late for that. Cover you with ribbons? Might have to get a room for that... Card games? See some weird mojo? Watch me turn into a sith? Cuddle? Make brownies? Make a song? Private performance? Sing you the song of my people? (Please don't do that one). I got more suggestions," she giggles, throwing proverbial noodles at the wall.

"I think we might combine cards and ribbons. Though, we'd definitely need a room for that." Patch muses, hugging into Silxvah, and just taking in her feathery warmth and touch. Well, and that foreign scent. It has a bit of woods in it, but that's alright with the bard. "We can grab a bottle of wine, and see where all that leads?" looking about the Inn with a smirk. "Maybe a song, maybe... wait. Did you say Sith?" her mind seizing on that with a blink. "Do you fancy scales?"

Slixvah does indeed smell like she just came from the woods, but there's also undertones of fresh air. Her face floofs at the mention of a combination. "... I can get behind this idea. Wine, some cards. Loser gets to tie a ribbon somewhere?" she muses, chuckling.

But that's put on pause by the sudden question. ".. uh. Yeah. I mean, me and Aelwyn sorta..." she wobbles a hand. "Attempted. But we passed out from drinks. Ain't the first time I've been with makari. Why? You wanna see me wag a tail or somethin'?" she teases lightly, but the genuine question is buried in it.

Patch flushes and bites on her lip a moment as she was caught off guard by that line of questions, and the admission of 'trying'. "Oh, Slix.. I mean, scale on flesh feels good, but it's not as nice as someone's feathers." she tries to get out, but she is sent into a small fit of laughter. "I... I mean." flushed again. "I can see why you use that magic the way you do. That's brilliant, and handy."

"Uh huh. I see," Slixvah squints suspiciously as she connects some dots, her leaning in. Looming. Though there's nothing but mischief and warmth in her eyes. "You know. Flesh on flesh felt good too," she intones, referencing a time in the past. A hand reaches up, a finger lifting Patch's face by the chin. "Gods, you're adorable. The appeal of new things is really enticing, isn't it?"

"I, too, like trying new things," she snickers, face floofing up. "You only need ask."

"That's very tempting, and brings forth too many thoughts." Patch says quickly, a smile coming as that finger on her chin bids her to look up. "Oh, that was more than delightful, but it wasn't a need." she muses, flushed again at that reminding of Slixvah. "I am all about trying new things, but I want you to know that's not an expectation. It's just a welcome surprise." wiggling a brow and shifting closer in her seat to the other woman. "So, surprise me, and we'll see what we like."

Slixvah warmly chuckles, closes her eyes, and bumps her forehead against Patch's. "You're considerate, and I like that. Which is why I like pulling out fun stuff for you," she intones. "There's no expectations. Hell, you were already entertaining the thoughts without that mentioned at all. And such lovely mindful will bear fruit to many, many surprises!"

She pulls away, gets to her feet. "Let's play cards and shoot the breeze, get some wine in us. And see what surprise we end up with. Yeah?"

Slix offers a hand.

Patch takes that hand, standing from her seat, and following the Egalrin woman for a night of fun, and surprises. What that entails? That's a bard's story for another night. "Considerate? More, appreciative. I think, anyways."

-End Scene-