nysalogs | january open post + catch-all

Entry tags:

january open post + catch-all

Who: Yona (

cutefaced) & you!
What: A catch-all for January with OTA prompts and closed starter toplevels.
When: Throughout January
Where: Mainly in and around Olympia; some visits to Wyver, too.
Warning(s): Nothing yet, but I'll edit if that changes.

olympia proper;

one - getting reacquainted;
[Before taking ill, Yona had spent much of her time in the market district - mainly because she's always been easily distracted by interesting things. As a result, she hadn't been completely familiar with other parts of the city before then, though she did make a few forays into the theater district.

No more. Now that she's back, she has every intention of learning her way around the city she and her friens have returned to.

Her wandering takes her almost everywhere - and as a result, she ends up hopelessly, uselessly lost. Maybe you'll catch her looking at her surroundings with a puzzled expression.]

...wait, was I supposed to turn right at the last street, or the next one?

[Help.]

two - weapons galore;
[You must never touch weapons, Yona.

Her father's words are fresh in her mind as she stands outside the weapons shop. Of course - she's already disobeyed him once, when practicing throwing daggers. But she can only keep "borrowing" from Jae-Ha and sneaking them back to him for so long, and they're his weapons, in the end; she needs to find something that suits her.

Sooner or later, she was always going to have to look out for herself.

So in she goes, although she nearly immediately looks a bit overwhelmed at all the different choices. Oh boy.]

There's so many of them...

three - order up;
[She can't just rely on other people to buy her things forever (although to be truthful, it's worked for her so far).

So, not long after they return to Olympia, Yona starts looking for work. Her problem is there aren't a lot of things she already knows how to do well - but part-time work serving food at a cafe seems simple enough, and she's managed to get a job as a waitress at the Wyvernest, which suits her just fine. One of the most interesting things about Wyver was the dragons, after all.

Now she's sort of got the best of both worlds - she can see the baby dragons while she's working, and can learn about them as she does. (The owner doesn't rebuff her when she asks for employment as some others have, but maybe that's because they remember she wore a Wyver pin at the gala. Maybe they think she knows more about dragons than she actually does.)

But at the moment? It's time to serve some customers! Yona looks up when she hears the door open and fixes the person who's just entered with a smile.]

Welcome to the Wyvernest! How many would you like a table for today?

the outskirts;

one - neutrality problems;
[The first time she borrows a mount to go exploring, she runs into some of the people who have left the city.

...up until that moment, she hadn't realized just how bad things had gotten. Sure, there were people who were vocal about wanting to keep themselves separate from the people of Wyver, and people who were talking about fighting with them... but she'd believed it was just talk. After all, when she'd gotten sick, the medicine that had cured her had only existed because they'd cooperated with them.

But, no. Apparently it is that bad. And when she hears that people on both sides have been refused help from the Sanctuary and the Altar of Volkkra...

Well, she can't take it. She really can't take it.

So, from time to time, she ventures out from the city on a mount for a "picnic," though what she's got packed is more along the lines of simple food for traveling, cloth cut into bandages, and other things she's managed to purchase with her earnings from the Wyvernest cafe. Some days, when she's gotten especially good tips, she has a little more.

Some days, when business has been slow, she's got a little less.

Either way, she's trying. And she could probably use a little help... be it with passing things out to people who need them, or actually providing effective medical assistance, or not getting mugged or attacked by wild animals or something.]

two - edrathe ruins;
[Is it foolish to be out here? Probably. Is that going to stop her from looking around? Probably not.

...except it really should have, because enough time has passed that Yona's borrowed mount has decided to head back to the stables and has definitely left her behind. She's wandering around near the entrance now, unsure if she's actually where she left it or if she's just gotten terribly turned around.]

Hello?

[...there's that strange rumbling noise; she jolts, then glances over her shoulder.]

Is someone here...?

a visit to wyver;

one - dragonwatching;
[No amount of tension is going to keep Yona out of Wyver - for the time being, anyway. But even she's not that stupid; when she does take off for the hotter country, about midway through the month, she at least has the sense to change the style of clothing she's wearing and smooth down her hair. It's perhaps not the most effective disguise she could have gone with, but at least when her hair reverts back to its usual frizzy state, she can use that as an excuse -

It couldn't have been me you saw! Do you really think I could get my hair to look like that?

Et cetera, et cetera.

Anyway, now that she's back in Wyver, she's going to be visiting some friends - but she's also going to be taking the time to go observe some fully-grown dragons. ...from a distance, of course; she doesn't want to be eaten. Still.

There's no small amount of admiration in her eyes as she watches them.]

They really are amazing...!

two - lagoons;
[Before she goes back to Olympia, she has to stop at the lagoons. Has to. There's no two ways about it. They're one of the things she enjoyed most about the jungle country, and she doesn't know when she'll get the chance to bathe in them again.

The public bathhouses in Olympia are perhaps a little more elegant, but the lagoon has its charm, too.

For now, Yona lounges in one of the public pools, her hair fanning out across the surface of the water and preserving her modesty. But ultimately, a bath is a bath. There's a time and a place for being naked; this is one of them.

So she doesn't really think twice about it when she catches sight of someone's feet at the water's edge - she waves them over with a smile.]

Come in, the water's great!

wildcard;

[If none of the above works for you, just hit me with whatever! I just ask that you let me know when and where it's happening; I can come up with a justification for Yona to be wherever you'd like. Alternatively, hit me up by PM or at hungriest and I'll be glad to write a personalized starter for you.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Does she really know that, though... well, she's convinced herself of it after their fight and subsequent makeup. So. More or less, yes.]

As long as you don't risk it, it's probably fine if you come, then.

[This is gonna be a disaster isn't it.]

He's been through a lot, so I want to make sure this is really special for him.

[...ahh, she never actually asked if he even wanted to come. But then, why would she assume he wouldn't? It's not like he's ever going to voice that he finds Slaine to be as interesting as a blanket that's been left in the rain one too many times--]

[But maybe this would be a good chance to reaffirm his status as a nice guy, if she's actually starting to doubt him this much.]

Of course! If there's anything you would like me to do to help, please let me know.

But before we get into that... I believe it's about time for your magic lessons!

[Yona really should have asked first, but to be completely fair, Mephisto has never indicated to her that he's not interested in parties, even if he's not interested in Slaine. In fact, it's been the opposite; he's always seemed to enjoy them when given the chance.

So. She just sort of assumes that he wants to come along and have a good time.]

Mm, that'd be great! We—

[Oh. Oh, right! She brightens up a bit at that and claps her hands together.]

You're right, it is! What are you going to teach me today?

[He steps back into the room away from the doorway, leaning against a dresser instead as as he brings a hand to his chin.]

Hmm, considering the progress you've made so far... why don't we try a little transformation spell this time?

Transformation...?

[Yona eyes him warily.]

Are you going to teach me to turn into a dog?

Oh no, nothing like that! I already told you those sorts of transformations are dangerous. This one is far more simple -- and at your current level, it shouldn't take too long for you to master.

[He could explain -- but why do that when he can show her?]

[And so he raises a hand, snaps his fingers... and suddenly his hair color has shifted, now taking on a bright green color similar to Jae-ha's, fading into yellow at the roots.]

...has something being dangerous ever stopped you from doing it before? [Or from teaching it to someone? Yona thinks probably not. Maybe someday she'll get good enough at magic that he won't be worried about teaching her dangerous tings.

She waits, and then he snaps his fingers, and...

Oh.]

Wow! Can you do that to just your hair? Or to anyone's?

[NOT GONNA ANSWER THAT since uh yeah she's got a point.]

Oh no, only my own! But I'm not limited to only my hair. I can change my eye color as well! [Which he'll do -- shifting his green eyes into an unnaturally bright blue color. They still have the same cat-like spookiness though if she decides to stand and get a better look.]

Little cosmetic changes like this can take a bit of effort to maintain. But as you gain more control over altering your appearance in this way, it becomes easier for more complex transformations in the future.

[she'll take that as a victory tbh]

Hmm...

[Yona considers that. ...how many times has she whined about the color of her hair, and how different it looks from her father's and her mother's? She has to admit, being able to change it is a tempting prospect.

Not to mention...]

It might be useful for going to Wyver without trouble, too...

Oh, what's that? Planning on cultivating a secret identity now?

[Ha... hahah... hah.]

...not exactly... I just thought it might be easier to go back and forth that way.

[She is absolutely planning on cultivating a secret identity. Whoops.

"Lena" returns.]

[Yona plz don't make that face, he doesn't want to admit that he's teasing her and acknowledge how often he does it...]

Really? I don't think it's a bad idea, you know. Especially considering the rising tensions between the two cities... I'd hate to see you caught in the middle of it just over a bit of sight-seeing or visiting a friend.

...I don't get why some people think it's so wrong to like both places.

[Yona's shoulders slump a little. She's definitely not a fan of the humidity in Wyver, but she met a lot of really great people there. And as someone was sick before the trip there, she can't help but think things would work out better for everyone if they continued to work together.]

Maybe it's because I didn't grow up here, but... everyone was able to get along while we were all over there. Why are they just going back to the way things were before?

They've been at odd for many, many years now... it would take more than a simple truce born of necessity to quell the bitterness that divides them.

[It's no surprise to Mephisto. He's seem humans quarrel over less -- the divide between Wyver and Olympia is almost to be expected, given their history of warring with one another.]

You and I are still new to this world. Although it's easy to question the way things are from an outsider's perspective, it's important to consider the thoughts and feelings of those who live here as well.

But... they were able to work together in spite of all that when it really mattered.

[That's what she can't get past. If they truly hadn't been able to cooperate at all, then...]

People are talking about fighting with them. But why should they have to fight people that they were working with just months ago..? It's too sad. Even if they're not going to be the best of friends, wouldn't it be better for everyone to just keep the peace and leave each other alone?

[If it does come to a fight, there will be bloodshed.

And it won't be the royals of either country that are the ones bleeding, Yona is sure of that.

It doesn't seem fair.]

[It's times like this where Mephisto can really see just how little of the world she must have seen prior to coming here. With a wave of his hand, his hair and eye color revert to normal, and he moves to take a seat in a nearby chair.]

I'm sure both sides are well aware that to keep the peace would be best for everyone involved. But when it comes to the matter of trust, it's far more difficult for either side to believe the other capable of such a thing. And neither wishes to be the one caught unaware should the other decide to strike.

While I do agree with you... as someone who has faced similar situations in the past, I can understand the rationale behind those who wish to maintain this status quo.

...

[When he says it like that, she really can't argue. There's only so many times she can say "that's not fair" before it gets old. Mephisto knows that it's unfair. She knows he knows it, too; she just doesn't have the knowledge base she needs to articulate what's really on her mind right now.

It's so frustrating. What was she doing those sixteen years in Hiryuu palace...? As a princess, shouldn't she have a better understanding of this?]

...they're just going to go in circles like that. One side striking first to keep the other from attacking them, giving the other side reason to believe they'll strike again, so they have to be the first to go next time...

Some might argue it's better to go in circles, than to have one side decide they'd rather not chance a "next time".

[...that was pretty dark. This whole mood turned a little dark, didn't it? Perhaps he should redirect it, lead her down a path that might feel a little less helpless--]

[Ah, but why bother? This was reality. It was cold and painful at times, but for someone like her, this was a lesson she would surely learn sooner or later. And besides all that, why does it matter of it makes her upset? He was a demon, after all. It's not like he cares--]

Ah, but you know! I'm sure there are plenty among the native population who share similar ideals to you. Younger generations especially tend to be more forgiving of the sins of their ancestors. Though it may seem far away right now, peace is always going to be a possibility, so long as those who wish for it don't lose hope.

[...]

[He stole that line from an anime shut up.]

...you're right.

[Well, luckily for Mephisto, Yona doesn't know anything about anime, so she doesn't recognize the ripped-off line. Instead, it just makes him sound optimistic, and it cheers her up a bit.

She even manages to smile.]

In the meantime, we just have to do what we can to help the people in front of us. ...and that means doing well with these lessons! If I really do learn to change my hair color like you, I might even be able to get into places I couldn't before and help more people.

[A-Ah, what a nice smile... he made her smile!!]

[.../cough]

[Damnit, does his human heart go into overdrive around Yona because of the dragon blood?? He's gonna punch Jae-ha next time he sees him.]

Yes, now that's the spirit! Shall we begin, then? The exact method isn't too different from the last spell I taught you... ah, but first you'll need to decide on a color, of course!

[Congratulations Mephisto, now you really know Jae-Ha's suffering.]

I already know that! I want black hair. [She sounds certain of this.] What's next?

[He really really does.]

Oh, so quick! And a fine choice, at that. Black is much easier color to start with.

[He says as he shows off, his own hair slowly fading into black with dark purple roots... gotta keep his two-toned #aesthetic at all times.]

Now, rather than imagining your hair turning black all at once, I want you to imagine it growing darker. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a dark room, thinking of just how the shadows stretching over your hair would look in a mirror. Search for that image and grasp it -- clear your mind of everything else.

[Yona closes her eyes, as he instructs, and takes a breath.]

Darker...

[She can try that. As she's picturing it, though, he'll see her shiver; apparently, her imagination is a little too vivid. Clearing her mind of everything else is a little easier said than done.]

It's too dark, I can't even see what it looks like in a mirror!

[...so picture a candle or something giving a little light, Yona, god.]

[He gives her a gentle tap on the back of the head--]

You're over-thinking it. Let's take the mirror out of the equation.

["Faust" was a kind, but strict teacher. His voice remains soft and calm, being patient as he leads her in the right direction.]

Picture yourself alone in the room, with only just enough light present for your eyes to make out the shapes of the walls in the darkness. Imagine every corner of that room, seeing the way it slowly pulls together. You lift a strand of your hair -- and see how it slowly comes into view as your eyes adjust further.

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