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

[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.

Eep!

[The tap startles her into opening her eyes again, an all at once, she feels a little foolish for getting carried away.]

...umm... [Right. Okay. She takes another breath and closes her eyes, trying to picture it as he describes it. This is a little easier, and as she imagines it, she also lifts a few strands of her hair in her hand.

It starts to darken at the tips. It's not black yet by any means, but it sort of looks like the tips of her hair have been dipped into a cheap, low-quality dye.]

[Changing already? It's impressive, given how she hasn't been studying magic for very long, coming from a world without it. Was this a natural-born talent? Or was there something about this world that amplified one's ability to learn magic?]

[It was fascinating to him -- and with her eyes closed, he doesn't hold back the look it brings out on his face.]

Keep that image in your mind, just like that... now, I want you think of a spell. Remember: any words will do, so long as they is ones you associate strongly with the image in your head.

[If the connection between the words and the image she wants is strong enough, her hair should change in an instant -- though whether it'll last long enough for her to open her eyes and see it is another thing altogether.]

[But it's fine, he's got a camera ready just in case.]

[If anything, she's peaking too soon. The very tips of her hair are darker, but... it's not really progressing the rest of the way up to the roots, even as she continues to picture her hair getting darker and darker.

But maybe she just needs to pick out the right magic words.]

...what words do you usually use for your spells, again...?

For myself, I choose words that resonate with me. They're usually simple, and in my first language-- German. Either a word to describe what I'm trying to do, or just a simple count to three to help me concentrate.

[Or just a snap of his fingers -- but that's higher level stuff that he'll get to once she masters the basics. Because of course he's already thinking that far ahead -- even if he figures the possibility of being outed as a demon and spurned away will come sooner or later.]

Teach me German sometime.

[...ah, but she's getting distracted. She needs to focus. So, with her eyes still clenched tightly shut, she does just that. She imagines her hair black and silky, like her mother's, as if just by thinking about it she can will it into existence.]

...one, two... three...!

[She waits.

...and then peeks open one eye to look.

The tips of her hair are a bit darker, almost black, but most of the rest of her hair is still red. Great.]

[It may not have worked, but it's better progress than he was expecting from her right away. At this rate, she might only need a week to master it.]

That's very good for your first attempt! But I think you can still do better than that.

Now then, did you choose to count to three because you associated those words with the image in your mind-- or because I told you that's how I do it?

...um... I associated the words with magic.

[Not necessarily with the image of her hair darkening to black, though. She realizes that a moment later and fiddles with the hem of her sleeve.]

But... I might have associated them with spells because that's how you do it...

[Ugh don't look so kawaii!! He can't be a stern teacher under these conditions!!]

When you get a better handle on the spell itself, altering or even forgoing the magic word becomes much easier. But until then, I want you to find a word you associate with the image of black, silky hair.

It's best not to overthink it, which is why I asked you think of one in the moment -- but you can take your time if you think that would be easier.

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