|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 18:42:14 GMT -6
Riku twiddled his thumbs as he sat at the small table in the corner of the café. He wasn’t used to being in public or meeting people - or meeting people in public. He typically kept to himself and his Malii, but figured it wasn’t the time to bring along a companion when he wanted to give his undivided attention to this new person.
He shifted in his seat, turning his legs to the left of the chair, then again to the right. Which was more comfortable...? Wait, which was more presentable? He spread his legs and sat back to seem confident and take up more ‘space’...but it wasn’t comfortable. He crossed his leg, the right ankle over the left knee and sat with his back to the chair with his arms cross. Gah! This one was too ‘closed’.
Giving up, he leaned forward again and put his elbows on the table, face in his hands.
Riku 1/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 18:43:47 GMT -6
He let out a sigh and licked his lips. He was parched. Should he order his drink now, or....wait until they got here? Would they wait in line together? Or one at a time? What if they stood in line at the same time but didn’t talk? He didn’t enjoy the idea of having to talk, but he disliked the idea of awkward silence even more.
This was the right café, right? Oh, Gods...
He kept his eye on the door, periodically checking his posture for arched back. He chuckled to himself, wondering if the arch mage he was meeting had an arched back like some sort of creepy monster he’d read about once.
He had only gotten the name from the Job Corp when he had asked if any mages were looking for interns or assistance. He knew there was a dedicated job for that, but he didn’t have time outside the mines looking for his own magical crystals...
Riku 2/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 18:44:29 GMT -6
Riku was almost embarrassed to be around other apprentices - though he had never met one. He felt like he was a joke, to have such potential and yet still no node of his own.
Perhaps the person behind the name they gave him would have some sort of advice or be willing to mentor him in some way on the side? “Jack” was all he got - other than that he was an arch mage. He requested that the Job Corp reach out to him, and they did. He was surprised when he came for his paycheck that next month to have a note inside:
How could such few words be so intimidating!? Did he even write them himself...? Was he that cold and short? Riku hoped it was just someone from the Job Corp helping to set up the meeting. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so bad?
He tried to meditate as he sat at the corner table, but each time the chime of the door caught his ear, he lost his concentration.
Riku 3/5 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on May 31, 2019 20:20:48 GMT -6
There was a cafe downtown in the Labs and she was headed there one bright and shiny day. She strode along with purpose and pride, the pouches at her hip clacking together and one that thrummed if a person who was so inclined walked by her. She smiled, it was a beautiful day, and she wasn't sure what was going to happen, but it couldn't necessarily be bad right? Someone had gotten in contact with her, a guy named Riku (wasn't he in the Guild?) wanted to meet with her about her job. Surely there had to be some questions in there or something, but she didn't really know. As long as he didn't try to take off with her nodes, they would be perfectly fine!
Finding the cafe, Jack opened the door and smiled at the chime it made, letting it close softly behind her. It was a cute little place at least, she had been there a time or two before, and it seemed to be a little busy, people going in and out constantly. She stood there for a moment, hands on her hips, before she thought she spied the right person sitting in the corner, looking absolutely terrified and miserable at the same time. It almost had to be him she figured, and she chuckled a little, did she really have that effect on people? That was something that needed to be worked on...
Sighing a little, she walked over to him, arms swinging at her sides, jewelry and pouches clinking together, swords sheathed at her hips, every bit an intimidating figure even if she didn't believe it at the moment. She tilted her head and smiled at him before asking him a simple question, "Riku?"
Jack: 1/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 21:22:58 GMT -6
Another chime, but this time he wasn’t going to be fooled. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated on his breath. In...out. A bit slower, in......out.......yeah, that is it, Riku. You’ve got this. Nothing to be afraid of. We're in public (never thought that’d be a good thing) and whoever this guy is surely isn't going to attack him.
Why was he so anxious anyway? What could be possibly do or say to provoke such a person? If they have so much power, they probably aren’t as on edge as he was....especially in a quaint little coffee shop.
In......ou-
His heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name right next to him. Gods, he didn’t even hear them walk up! (So does that mean the meditation worked because he was focused? Or failed because he was startled?) Opening his eyes, he saw a woman - whom he didn’t make eye contact with, but merely glanced at her face with an instinctual smile - with a sword, jewelry, and pouches, presumably contained nodes.
Riku 4/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 21:24:09 GMT -6
Was this the person he had asked to meet? He took the name and position to mean they were a male, but this was clearly a girl - or rather, an attractive young woman! Er...maybe just an attractive woman? She seemed to be about his age, maybe a little older. Pretty much anyone under 40 or so was considered specifically young to him. He took another quick glance at her face and silently melted a little. Freckles...!
Gods, why was she so tall!? Oh, right...he was sitting. With a jerk of his hips backwards, he moved the chair back a bit - almost knocking it over - and stood up. He caught himself from making a saluting gesture. This wasn’t right situation for that. (Right?)
“Um, yes, that’s me.” He said with an awkward laugh. She didn't seem like a drill sergeant, but he didn't exactly know which ‘public face’ to give her yet, either...
Riku 5/5 +1
|
|
|
Post by Riku on May 31, 2019 21:25:05 GMT -6
She was a very pretty girl. He hadn’t really dated before, and he hadn’t really experienced either gender enough to know which one he liked - if either or maybe both(?) - and it wasn’t likely she would be interested in him since they had just met and she was already an arch mage and he was just a spelunker and and...so many thoughts were running through his head. He mentally kicked himself to get back on track.
“Thanks for meeting me here.” He said, catching himself for speaking without thinking. It just slipped out!
But, oh...it was smooth. Hm. Maybe speaking first and thinking later was a good thing. He internally smirked. (There are a lot of thoughts and expressions that go through his mind within only a few seconds that he doesn’t let be expressed externally. Inner monologues all within the time-frame of a simple small talk.
Riku 1/5 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on May 31, 2019 22:04:02 GMT -6
Jack chuckled a little and offered to shake his hand, "Not a problem, I'm Jack. Sorry for the short reply, I was busy and that's all I managed to get out before they snatched it away from me." She smiled at him and then gestured to the seat he had almost knocked over, motioning a waitress over to take their order with her other hand. Taking the other seat at the little corner table, she ordered a chocolate coffee when the woman came over and then sipped it when she was given it. She took the time to look the man over and raised an eyebrow, he seemed... interesting, at least... Giving him another smile, she leaned back in the chair, touched the pouch with her nodes, and then nodded, "Alright, what did you want to talk about?" Of course she had a guess, and her fingers tightened around the opening to the pouch, though it was drawn shut at the moment, and she hoped he wasn't expecting her to part with one or all of her nodes, that would never happen until she died.
Again.
Died again.
For good.
It seemed like nothing could keep her down, she was a formidable figure, though she always managed to laugh it off when someone told her as much. She was just her, and while she had been trained in the navy, it didn't really matter anymore, she was on land now! Though her leg was now better, she still thought of herself as crippled a little, and even though she didn't walk with a walking stick anymore, she felt a little bare without it. It had been a good worry stone, but now her nodes seemed to fit the bill pretty well.
Jack: 2/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 5, 2019 19:56:51 GMT -6
Remember to breathe, Riku. He shook her hand when it was offered. Was that tight enough? He never knew how to shake a woman’s hand - and was always distracted if their hands were soft (like his own). At least this time she didn’t close her hand before he could get his properly ‘in there’, which would have resulted in an awkward finger-hold. He internally shuddered at the thought. It’s happened before.
”Jack...” he repeated, intentionally looking like he was making a mental note. ”Yeah, it was no problem. I was just glad to have a reply at all.”
Okay, that’s good. Let’s just et a rhythm going...
Seeing her signal the person working, he was shocked. They do that!? What was the line for? Oh...maybe for the people who don’t plan to stay there. He sat down in his seat again and pulled up from underneath as he shifted it forward.
Riku 2/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 5, 2019 19:58:00 GMT -6
Okay, here’s the next challenge. What do we order!? (And who is ‘we’? No. No, Riku, we’ll have that talk later tonight. Just let it happen for now. It’s working, right?) Should he get a hot drink like she did? Well...he preferred them cold. It’s okay to be different. Iced or blended? Mm.....blended! With a mental sigh, he tried to decide if he wanted a caffeinated drink or just a sweet one. Chocolate or green tea? Caffeine could make him too anxious - or worse, impulsively humorous. But...tea generally had a different effect on him. It gave him a more balanced focus...but it was still a bit of a risk. Nhh...!
With a covert smile to hide how hard that decision was, he asked the employee for a large blended green tea. When he got it, he simply held onto it from the base and occasionally played with the straw.
Riku 3/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 5, 2019 19:58:48 GMT -6
He tried his best to sit up as they spoke. She did seem much more lax than he had anticipated, and he was grateful for that. Her frequent smiles were probably given to help him feel at ease. ”I...well, I wanted to talk to you about your magic and all that you do.” he uncomfortably took a sip of his drink. He could use the confidence it gave him now. (Oh my, that is so good! Definitely coming back.)
”I don’t have a node yet. I’m....Just a spelunker.” He trailed off at the end and looked down to the right, until he added ”-but just until I find all the pieces to make my own node! I have plans, dreams. They’ve just sorta...escaped me til this point.”
He looked up at Jack, the green tea finally taking effect. She seemed human. (Obviously...) More than that, she seemed real. Attainable.
”I guess what I’m trying to say is that you are where I’m trying to be.” He stated, smiling warmly, appreciative of her mere existence there with him. “So...I was wondering if you had any pointers? It’s just nice to see with my own eyes that what I’m trying to do with my life is possible.”
Riku 4/5 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Jun 6, 2019 18:22:30 GMT -6
There were five nodes, she had to remember that, the Hollow was relatively new and she smiled as she thought of it. An older mammalian had offered to make it for her, for a price of course. Jack had more magic than anyone it seemed, except for the elementals who were running around, but they didn't count in her mind. She had more magical power than anyone, and she tried her best not to flaunt it, but here was a young man who wanted to be like her, who was impressed by what she had done since she had come to the Labs. Jack chewed her lip for a bit before taking a sip or two of her mocha as she tried to think of what to say exactly. She had to be careful with what she said after all.
Carefully she took the pouch with her nodes and placed it on the table, keeping a protective hand on the pouch though, and then opened it so he could see all five of them in there, swirling and echoing with power. "Anything is possible, you just have to keep trying. I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet, but I'll be there soon if I keep working at it," Jack finally told him, watching his face carefully and making sure he didn't touch them. She was quite protective of them after all. "Don't be upset with what job you have either, it's a good start and gets you in the mines hunting for what you need! But don't try to be me, be yourself of course, and be careful, always. If you mess up making your node, you end up in the Healer's Temple after you come back to life," the woman warned.
Jack: 3/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:15:33 GMT -6
Riku carefully examined the other person sitting across from him. He was being very vulnerable with his words and that was...not common for him. Her gentle approach with him and apparent empathy were greatly appreciated...but he was concerned with what she would say.
Was it too much? No...well, maybe, but he decided not to regret it. Surely she could understand a dream, right? This was his! And achieving something as incredible as she’s done just couldn’t happen without a dream, right!? She was an arch mage! Oh! The thought! He was on cloud nine at the thought of literally floating on a cloud shaped like a nine with magic. Knowing all that he could do! He remembered....he had seen it with his own eyes.
His thoughts turned back, as the other person was choosing her words, to a time when he was lulled to sleep with magical jumping sheep conjured with hollow magic.
Riku 5/5 +2
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:17:02 GMT -6
That was, of course, only after the most epic of bed time stories played out with light-node illusions with the help of fire and water nodes to add heat effects for the ethereal dragons and cool effects for the ghostly mermaids all intertwined in those stories.
His best friend was his teacher - and also sort of like his own father, even though he had a biological dad. He had been pulled aside at a young age from regular lectures the other high-born children were exposed to. He was special they told him. Destined for greatness, they said! Magic just....came naturally to him. He could feel it, use it, speak its language. And it spoke his.......
And so did he......Cephalo...
Riku internally shrunk at the reminder of...someone from long ago. A happy and powerful memory turned into a sour, discouraging one. He could never be like him....not after-
Riku 1/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:18:06 GMT -6
Seeing the pouch being placed on the table took Riku out of his train of thought, fortunately. His eyes widened at the sight - but even more so, the feeling of the five greater nodes kept inside of it. It wasn’t his first time seeing a node, even a greater node. He was very experienced....and he could almost feel that familiar power rushing through his nerves again just from being so close. It was.....intoxicating.
He sat back in his chair, eyes still fixed with awe on the bag, but body physically being distanced a bit. He didn’t like the feeling. The power...it scared him because it reminded him too much of losing control. Hands in his lap now, he rubbed his left thumb over the scar in the palm of his right hand. An eternal reminder.
‘Anything is possible’...? The girls words were like a sweet salve on his heart’s wound. Anything. Hm...
Riku 2/5
|
|