[ there's a nod, taking it Very Seriously, and he takes a breath. okay. ]
... I was thinking about... if there was any rhyme or reason to why the... they were 'monsters', right? Why they would have settled with certain people or not. Mine...
[ he reaches up - and touches his heart, absently. that odd, itchy darkness feels so at odds with the hole left behind by the sacred flame that was stolen barely minutes before his arrival. ]
... It's quite the opposite of the kind of person that I am. I'm not a good liar, and - I don't really like lying, at all. To find the other half... does that sort of thing matter? Or is it more random...?
[ they are again quiet for a long moment. their head turns perhaps to glance off. ]
Consider it a challenge. I cannot offer you definite answers involving the peculiarities of your summoning, but maybe it sought you out for that reason.
If you do not wish to find your partner, that's fine. If they do not wish for you to find them, that is also fine. But together, with the higher risk, your abilities may change.
[ i personally appreciate this. rondo's clearly listening to everything they're saying - he nods his head, taking it to heart. okay. okay!! that's a start, he can work with that. also being reminded of someone makes him perk a little bit too, for reasons unknown. he has been Seen. anyway. ]
...I definitely don't mind a challenge. [ haha. he wouldn't be much of a sword boy if he did! hand settling at his heart, he takes in what war is telling him, thoughtful, mind wandering through the possibilities. ]
A higher risk for a higher reward makes sense. [ not unlike the flame, really. ] And that's the only benefit...?
[ yea this is a sword guy. unfortunate about the sword. ]
Two together make a stronger force.
You may receive other rewards, too, though those depend perhaps for what you ask. But you must never forget your lives would be tied together going forward. The scales of balance.
he nods - for a brief moment, hand falling onto said sword, curling around the hilt. right... two together make a stronger force.
rondo's quiet for a moment, working through his thoughts. ]
...I'd like to be able to protect that person, whoever they are... I guess then it comes down to if knowing will protect them, or if it will make things worse. [ it is here that war also gets to see the weekly effect of the ink splatter - a small, black ink phrase hovering over his heart on his cloak. Being too weak to help others. ] And that's going to be up to me to figure out.
[ the last bit is partially talking to himself, but he looks up afterwards, this time with a smile. ]
... I'll have to be really careful, huh? Haha. I'm not always very good at that...
why are they being handed this incredibly sad line of inky text? no. just no. ]
Then you and my younger brother have something else in common. I'm sure you will figure it out. We have several weeks to spare based on the time for the cult to prepare the ritual. You have time to hopefully not act rashly.
Eheh... I know. [ strength in being patient, and strength in not acting rashly. he's going to do his best to try and be levelheaded. do what sazantos would do except like, without the part where he lost it and is currently trying to destroy the world it's fine
rondo ducks his head, and after a long moment, asks - curious, sounding a little happy: ]
My sister is far smarter than I am. [ this clearly does not bother him so he'll just say it. he just sounds proud and affectionate, immediately. ] She's the lady of the house, now, and - I know she must handle it all amazingly. I can't imagine anything less.
Oh, but, she's not a magic using scholar! Unless she started studying magic since I left and I didn't know about it, but.... she's never written about it in her letters, so, I don't think so.
oh... rondo's face lights up at that, in realization, and very visibly so. what a nice way thing to say... "it was about their younger brother" still ]
Ehehe. [ and then he ducks his head, a little bashful with it. ] That's... a really good point, War. Different strengths, right...?
...I promised Cordelia I'd always protect her when we were kids. It was just the two of us - well, the two of us and our butler - for a long time. And... she was the one who encouraged me to go join the Knights Ardante, even though it meant I would have to leave. She's strong in a lot of ways, I think - it just amazes me all the time.
She'd probably really like to learn it. [ a little smile. it's not like the ravuses couldn't afford her to get a tutor, but... well, responsibility and duty and all that jazz. ] Do you prefer magic, War?
[ they will never speak highly of their brother again. ]
I do. I have spent my life on nothing but the research of a particular type of esoteric magic that is favorable among my clan. My brother preferred loyal brawn not unlike yourself. He follows our faith as well, but not enough to be a zealot.
[ I CANT BELIEVE I DIDNT APP CYRUS WHY ARE THERE SO MANY FUCKING WIZARDS
ANYWAY!!! rondo, who has been praised several times by war and is now inadvertently very attached, brightened up a bit further at that, too! ]
You're both of the faithful...! Haha, it's the same there, too - as a Knight Ardante, I was anointed by the Pontiff into the Order of the Sacred Flame. My sister, not so much! [ tailwag... ] So, then... would you call yourself that? Is your magic of the faith?
[ no, no, we need LESS wizards. also STOP TAKING IT AS PRAISE AND GETTING ATTACHED. ]
No. Absolutely not. Well - some who practice this kind of magic are faith-driven, but my pursuit is not. I refuse to let faith limit me in finding the answers of the universe. Of time.
Of time...? [ i'm the wrong team asano character for time magic. however rondo still thinks it's cool. ] ... That's pretty amazing. And that kind of conviction's pretty admirable, too. That's the only way we learn to master something, right?
[ that's how rondo became a knight, after all. pure solid conviction ]
So - oh, that reminds me! You didn't tell me, what we talked about before! I asked you about what kind of war you think you are.
[ tell me you aren't anna and then use the phrase wiggly tendrils
it is. so blatantly obvious that his eyes track up to the Void. rondo has never been subtle once in his life - but he swallows, after a moment, and pulls them back down to their mask. that's heavy weight, especially with what they say. ]
I see. [ ... ] ... What do you fight for? Someone asked me that once.
rondo is not subtle at all, thank you, but if war is bothered, they don't make any show of it. ]
I am actually not inclined toward war. It isn't something I ever had any real interest in. War, politics. Studying my magic and its limits is what I'm interested in. I am merely caught in war's web.
thanks war you're a bro. and thankfully, he's listening to what they are saying and not paying too much attention to the giant and blaring word traitor on their forehead. ]
Enough so that it's your namesake... Would you prefer something like... "knowledge"? [ that's not a horseman of the apocalypse ] Or... "Time?" Or... [ don't say traitor don't say traitor ] Um...
there's a soft little laugh at that. ] That's definitely true. Back at home, I was spending a lot of time fighting alongside the King and Queen of Edoras and Riven, and the King of Altinia... they had to deal with a huge war just before we all convened together, too. It's a really big problem in Orsterra - everyone's always fighting.
[ literally always this continent sucks so bad ]
Was that the only way to be able to study your magic? There weren't any academies or anything like that that could support you...?
Yes, war is a large problem where I am from as well. Of course it is. [ they shake their head. ] I preferred to study on my own within the confines of our land and city.
Because that was the best way to be able to do your research, right...? A high cost, but one that's worth it.
[ his gaze flicks briefly to the top of their mask again... traitor... before he snaps it away. polite. a nice boy. rondo's quiet for a little while, folding his gloved hands in his lap. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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... I was thinking about... if there was any rhyme or reason to why the... they were 'monsters', right? Why they would have settled with certain people or not. Mine...
[ he reaches up - and touches his heart, absently. that odd, itchy darkness feels so at odds with the hole left behind by the sacred flame that was stolen barely minutes before his arrival. ]
... It's quite the opposite of the kind of person that I am. I'm not a good liar, and - I don't really like lying, at all. To find the other half... does that sort of thing matter? Or is it more random...?
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[ they are again quiet for a long moment. their head turns perhaps to glance off. ]
Consider it a challenge. I cannot offer you definite answers involving the peculiarities of your summoning, but maybe it sought you out for that reason.
If you do not wish to find your partner, that's fine. If they do not wish for you to find them, that is also fine. But together, with the higher risk, your abilities may change.
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...I definitely don't mind a challenge. [ haha. he wouldn't be much of a sword boy if he did! hand settling at his heart, he takes in what war is telling him, thoughtful, mind wandering through the possibilities. ]
A higher risk for a higher reward makes sense. [ not unlike the flame, really. ] And that's the only benefit...?
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Two together make a stronger force.
You may receive other rewards, too, though those depend perhaps for what you ask. But you must never forget your lives would be tied together going forward. The scales of balance.
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he nods - for a brief moment, hand falling onto said sword, curling around the hilt. right... two together make a stronger force.
rondo's quiet for a moment, working through his thoughts. ]
...I'd like to be able to protect that person, whoever they are... I guess then it comes down to if knowing will protect them, or if it will make things worse. [ it is here that war also gets to see the weekly effect of the ink splatter - a small, black ink phrase hovering over his heart on his cloak. Being too weak to help others. ] And that's going to be up to me to figure out.
[ the last bit is partially talking to himself, but he looks up afterwards, this time with a smile. ]
... I'll have to be really careful, huh? Haha. I'm not always very good at that...
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why are they being handed this incredibly sad line of inky text? no. just no. ]
Then you and my younger brother have something else in common. I'm sure you will figure it out. We have several weeks to spare based on the time for the cult to prepare the ritual. You have time to hopefully not act rashly.
There is strength in being patient sometimes.
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Eheh... I know. [ strength in being patient, and strength in not acting rashly. he's going to do his best to try and be levelheaded. do what sazantos would do except like, without the part where he lost it and is currently trying to destroy the world it's fine
rondo ducks his head, and after a long moment, asks - curious, sounding a little happy: ]
...You're an older sibling, War...?
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Yes.
[ the older sibling energy is there. but that is all they offer. ]
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cute... the smile warms. ]
... Heh. That's something we have in common - I have a little sister.
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And if you are the soldier, and I am the scholar, and my younger brother is the soldier, does that mean your little sister is the scholar?
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[ oh, cute...!!! ]
My sister is far smarter than I am. [ this clearly does not bother him so he'll just say it. he just sounds proud and affectionate, immediately. ] She's the lady of the house, now, and - I know she must handle it all amazingly. I can't imagine anything less.
Oh, but, she's not a magic using scholar! Unless she started studying magic since I left and I didn't know about it, but.... she's never written about it in her letters, so, I don't think so.
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[ THE ICON NO ]
A shame. She sounds as if she would make a fine mage.
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oh... rondo's face lights up at that, in realization, and very visibly so. what a nice way thing to say... "it was about their younger brother" still ]
Ehehe. [ and then he ducks his head, a little bashful with it. ] That's... a really good point, War. Different strengths, right...?
...I promised Cordelia I'd always protect her when we were kids. It was just the two of us - well, the two of us and our butler - for a long time. And... she was the one who encouraged me to go join the Knights Ardante, even though it meant I would have to leave. She's strong in a lot of ways, I think - it just amazes me all the time.
She'd probably really like to learn it. [ a little smile. it's not like the ravuses couldn't afford her to get a tutor, but... well, responsibility and duty and all that jazz. ] Do you prefer magic, War?
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I do. I have spent my life on nothing but the research of a particular type of esoteric magic that is favorable among my clan. My brother preferred loyal brawn not unlike yourself. He follows our faith as well, but not enough to be a zealot.
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ANYWAY!!! rondo, who has been praised several times by war and is now inadvertently very attached, brightened up a bit further at that, too! ]
You're both of the faithful...! Haha, it's the same there, too - as a Knight Ardante, I was anointed by the Pontiff into the Order of the Sacred Flame. My sister, not so much! [ tailwag... ] So, then... would you call yourself that? Is your magic of the faith?
[ he does not know what esoteric means. ]
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No. Absolutely not. Well - some who practice this kind of magic are faith-driven, but my pursuit is not. I refuse to let faith limit me in finding the answers of the universe. Of time.
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Of time...? [ i'm the wrong team asano character for time magic. however rondo still thinks it's cool. ] ... That's pretty amazing. And that kind of conviction's pretty admirable, too. That's the only way we learn to master something, right?
[ that's how rondo became a knight, after all. pure solid conviction ]
So - oh, that reminds me! You didn't tell me, what we talked about before! I asked you about what kind of war you think you are.
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funny he should say this. he's mostly through the last sentence when wiggly tendrils of a void appear along the front of the helm between the horns.
TRAITOR
maybe not a great thing to have right now, but ok. ]
The kind which cares little for what happens to others so long as it reaches a victory.
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it is. so blatantly obvious that his eyes track up to the Void. rondo has never been subtle once in his life - but he swallows, after a moment, and pulls them back down to their mask. that's heavy weight, especially with what they say. ]
I see. [ ... ] ... What do you fight for? Someone asked me that once.
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rondo is not subtle at all, thank you, but if war is bothered, they don't make any show of it. ]
I am actually not inclined toward war. It isn't something I ever had any real interest in. War, politics. Studying my magic and its limits is what I'm interested in. I am merely caught in war's web.
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thanks war you're a bro. and thankfully, he's listening to what they are saying and not paying too much attention to the giant and blaring word traitor on their forehead. ]
Enough so that it's your namesake... Would you prefer something like... "knowledge"? [ that's not a horseman of the apocalypse ] Or... "Time?" Or... [ don't say traitor don't say traitor ] Um...
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No, War is fine.
[ SAY TRAITOR IT'S FUNNY ]
The higher you rise in the ranks of the public, the more entangled you become in war.
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anyway
there's a soft little laugh at that. ] That's definitely true. Back at home, I was spending a lot of time fighting alongside the King and Queen of Edoras and Riven, and the King of Altinia... they had to deal with a huge war just before we all convened together, too. It's a really big problem in Orsterra - everyone's always fighting.
[ literally always this continent sucks so bad ]
Was that the only way to be able to study your magic? There weren't any academies or anything like that that could support you...?
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Yes, war is a large problem where I am from as well. Of course it is. [ they shake their head. ] I preferred to study on my own within the confines of our land and city.
I worked for our queen in her court.
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Because that was the best way to be able to do your research, right...? A high cost, but one that's worth it.
[ his gaze flicks briefly to the top of their mask again... traitor... before he snaps it away. polite. a nice boy. rondo's quiet for a little while, folding his gloved hands in his lap. ]
... Why time, anyway?
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