I think we just need to follow her instructions . . . And trade her back a few things.
[ he has a list! ]
But we can do that after. There’s a chance it won’t work.
[ but he’s hoping it’s the opposite. anyway, otisse is waiting for them inside, cloaked and ready to give the ritual a shot. now, her face might be obscured by the mask she wears, but her smoker voice beckons them into an empty room she’d borrowed. ]
[ falco’s gotchu ahiru 😤 a gentleman at best, he’s sure to stay in front of her to guard her insecurity. in the room they go into, two larger circles drawn with chalk overlap each other while to smaller ones connect to them via lines. glyphs, items and symbolism litter their circumference, and all that was left . . .
she holds her hand out, and requests at least a drop of blood, each. ]
[ falco nods and flips his cloak away from his side to unsheath a knife, a pocket model he'd been carrying since his time in south sister. one drop would mean he only had to prick a finger, and right by ahiru, he lowered his hand to show her what would happen, and not to worry. just enough pressure applied to his fingertip allowed a bead of milky white paleblood to come out, followed by the pressure of his squeezing hand to make more of it readily available.
otisse chuckles under her breath; courageous boy used to blood sacrifices, she sees. when the woman looks at him expectantly and gestures to hand the knife onward, falco worries his lip. ]
I— She can't use the same blade as me, [ bowing his head, ] sorry.
[ it was a matter of possibly being infectious with an eldritch ghost parasite. tipping her head in acknowledgment, otisse searches about for a clean blade to use . . . ah, a needle. even better for the occasion. if ahiru would rather do it herself or ask otisse to do it for her is up to her. ]
[ well . . . it looks like it's her turn . . . she scrunches up her eyes (that doesn't help, ahiru) and pricks her finger with the needle. then she holds her finger out. ]
[ now we get to the hocus pocus bullshit. with each little droplet at the ready, otisse takes each finger gently to smudge across one piece of mandibular bone each, placing the recipients in the smaller circles connected to theirs. with incantations being spun, all they had to do was wait in their circles and stay alert.
the energy feels pretty . . . strange. it’s being manipulated and stretched, shared would be the finest result—
it all ends with a gradual hum in their ears. test it out and return me my items if it works. they’re good kids. falco would scam her. sighing out with some relief but still tense, he waves for ahiru’s attention. ]
[ this might be the hard part for any non-combatant and falco’s tone speaks it. ]
I used to practice on roosters back in South Sister. We can try and find a mean one, or . . . Find something else that’s really agitated? Like bugs, or fish.
[ leading the way out and into the forest, falco makes sure perle is overhead to keep watch for them. gives them more than enough time to find things that are, like . . . fighting, or something.
they’re lucky to find two stag beetles during it out at the base of a tree. ]
Okay, [ crouching down for a better look, falco starts explaining: ] you need to focus as hard as you can when you want it to work. You have to tell them something— like stop or calm down, and really mean it.
[ rules!!: ]
Don’t try to move around or change your form if you’ve got another; it only works in one.
[ and that one is usually your neutral one, not offensive or defensive. ]
And if you don’t get it the first few times, that’s okay. It took me more than a month to work out.
[ okay. she can do this. feelings made real, poured into an object, that's like her life story at the moment. so she channels positive vibes as hard as she can and goes. ]
[ it might not work. it might not work the first few handful of times she tries it— and that’s perfectly normal! she has falco’s support, though, and he’ll be sure to keep rooting her on to avoid burnout. closer to the tenth or so shot, ahiru should be getting a reaction: the beetles pause for only about three seconds before either returning to their battle posts, or . . .
[ those beetles are at her. gently, falco attempts to lead them away as they buzzed about. eventually, they give up and go separate ways. ]
Just don’t give up, and practice a lot. [ again, it took a whole month of constant practice from falco to get it working, and even then, he runs the risk of mishaps. ] Just be careful not to use them on people, soon. Coming after you instead of calming down . . . Could happen, but only if you do it wrong.
[ a beat. ]
Why don’t we practice together? Every day, same spot.
[ she smiles, so thankful. she's so glad to have met him, someone on a similar wavelength to her, who doesn't make her feel weird about not hurting anything. ]
You've been so kind. I hope I can repay you somehow.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ which she may have forgotten already . . . ]
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[ he has a list! ]
But we can do that after. There’s a chance it won’t work.
[ but he’s hoping it’s the opposite. anyway, otisse is waiting for them inside, cloaked and ready to give the ritual a shot. now, her face might be obscured by the mask she wears, but her smoker voice beckons them into an empty room she’d borrowed. ]
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maybe a little too close, just in case. ]
Uhmmm . . . Hello.
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she holds her hand out, and requests at least a drop of blood, each. ]
Are you okay with that?
[ he is— he always has to prick himself. ]
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but she committed to this. and falco had done so much for her. she couldn't quit now just because it made her queasy. so ahiru gives a wobbly nod. ]
Y — Yes.
cw: mild self harm (for science)
otisse chuckles under her breath; courageous boy used to blood sacrifices, she sees. when the woman looks at him expectantly and gestures to hand the knife onward, falco worries his lip. ]
I— She can't use the same blade as me, [ bowing his head, ] sorry.
[ it was a matter of possibly being infectious with an eldritch ghost parasite. tipping her head in acknowledgment, otisse searches about for a clean blade to use . . . ah, a needle. even better for the occasion. if ahiru would rather do it herself or ask otisse to do it for her is up to her. ]
Re: cw: mild self harm (for science)
T-T-There!
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the energy feels pretty . . . strange. it’s being manipulated and stretched, shared would be the finest result—
it all ends with a gradual hum in their ears. test it out and return me my items if it works. they’re good kids. falco would scam her. sighing out with some relief but still tense, he waves for ahiru’s attention. ]
We can look for something small to test it on.
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How would we do that?
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I used to practice on roosters back in South Sister. We can try and find a mean one, or . . . Find something else that’s really agitated? Like bugs, or fish.
[ people are dangerous, considering. yea. ]
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We could look in the forest?
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[ at least right now. ]
We’ll just double our attention. And um . . . [ in case something happens, ] If we’re in trouble and you see a huge bird— That’s me, or Perle.
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Mmm. I got it. Don't worry.
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they’re lucky to find two stag beetles during it out at the base of a tree. ]
Okay, [ crouching down for a better look, falco starts explaining: ] you need to focus as hard as you can when you want it to work. You have to tell them something— like stop or calm down, and really mean it.
[ rules!!: ]
Don’t try to move around or change your form if you’ve got another; it only works in one.
[ and that one is usually your neutral one, not offensive or defensive. ]
And if you don’t get it the first few times, that’s okay. It took me more than a month to work out.
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Mmm, okay. I got it. I should be able to do it.
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Alright. Try it.
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S-S-Stop!
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buzzing onto her face. ]
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Guess it didn't work . . .
we can start closing up if that’s okay!
Just don’t give up, and practice a lot. [ again, it took a whole month of constant practice from falco to get it working, and even then, he runs the risk of mishaps. ] Just be careful not to use them on people, soon. Coming after you instead of calming down . . . Could happen, but only if you do it wrong.
[ a beat. ]
Why don’t we practice together? Every day, same spot.
perfect thank you <33
[ she smiles, so thankful. she's so glad to have met him, someone on a similar wavelength to her, who doesn't make her feel weird about not hurting anything. ]
You've been so kind. I hope I can repay you somehow.