therookery | crystal;

Entry tags:

crystal;

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Allumin
RECIPIENT: Everybody in Riftwatch
NOTES: gay panic in a couple threads (kinda spicy)

um, hello? [the voice is very soft and nervous at first.]

Pardon my anxiousness, I'm, ah, not used to this kind of communication being so... open?

I was told I'd need a staff and some guidance in order to use my own magic properly here. The general outlook on mages, however, has me doubting if devoting the time is a good idea or if I should focus my efforts elsewhere. However, if it's not as bad as I'm making it out to be in my head, and someone were interested and able in assisting me, I'd be happy to discuss fair compensation for your time.

Also, upon some recent reflection, I suppose I should offer myself up to one of the divisions of Riftwatch - not Diplomacy though, I'm not equipped for that.

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[~~dial up noises~~

There is a good bit of silence before Allumin happens to respond. How do you beg to a stranger - prostrate yourself verbally, and especially important, over a relatively public form of communication? He doesn't know enough about who this is to try and focus on communicating privately.

He spends some time trying to write out some ideas - which goes so well considering that he can't stop his hands from trembling when he thinks about the voice, and what was said between the both of them. uuhhhhhHHHH. Why does he have to be so foolish in this way?!]

Oh, honey-voiced stranger, with temptation that would put Asmodeus himself to shame... [he can't believe he's doing this, oh no, his breathing starts to get a bit frantic, but he tries his best to stay cool]

H--humbly, I beg - for your hhhelp - [every h sounds like his lungs are just trying to give up, oh boy, keep going] - please, a-as I am just - just a f-fool in need.

[hhhhhhhhhhhhh oh, that may be the most embarrassing thing he's ever done.]

( the answer he's getting may not be the one expects, a woman's voice, laced with real concern— )

You understand that that's not necessary to get help here.

( right? )

My name is Joselyn Smythe. If you're in really dire need of assistance, there's lots of people in the Gallows, including me, who will be more than happy to give it to you, and if this is— ( delicately, ) —otherwise motivated, there are ways to use your crystal to speak with someone privately that I'd be happy to demonstrate.

( sweetheart do you need an adult or tech support. )

[sobs yes]

o-oh, wh-well, I mean, I thought, um, [wheeze] he(?) said he could use the entertainment, so I was [oh no how many other people heard?? time to get a new voice, where's a vocal trainer] simply being a good sport, I--

[he takes a moment to calm down and catch his breath. ahem]

Thank you for the offer - a-[his voice cracks a bit and he clears his throat] Allumin, my name is Allumin.

Allumin. All right, Allumin. You can find me if you have any questions about anything—I'm in the research division—and you don't have to do anything that makes you ( audibly ) uncomfortable ( to listen to ) if you don't want to. For anyone's entertainment.

( it's a very materteral vibe from joselyn, who gives the vague impression that she might offer water and discreetly point out where they keep the condoms, because she just wants you to be safe, honey.

but for sure at least one of the division heads heard this (and tossed his crystal, only for jos to grab it because hang on—), sorry kid. )

Here's how you make something private—

( and the rest of her message is private between them: )

I just wanted to make sure you weren't being taken advantage of, week one. I used to look after the new arrivals, in the Circles.

( she is talking about children. joselyn had never become an enchanter, had never taught any of them magic, but she'd overseen the early education of baby mages, guided them through their awkward adolescences and, memorably, murdered the hell out of a templar who tried to sell them out in the war. )

Thank you, [his words are carried on a shaky sigh] really, I don't know if I can thank you enough. I feel so bad that people had to hear that, even as if it was a joke.

[well, maybe half a joke, but he can pretend it entirely was one.]

You wouldn't happen to know where I can get a new identity, would you? [There's an actual joke. Although he wouldn't be opposed to following through if she did... Darn, another half-joke.]

( does joselyn believe it was a joke? not entirely. is she going to let him have that face-saving falsehood anyway? yeah, what is she, a monster. )

Well, technically, you could say you were just about anyone you wanted to decide to be now you've got a new life here.

( wherever you go, there you are. but it is quite the opportunity for a bit of self-reinvention, if one was so inclined. )

Well, I was more hoping one that would erase what just happened five minutes ago. But you are right.

[His mind conjures up the imposing armored figure of Gabranth guarding the bridge at the tournament, asking - expecting Allumin to become better than who he was before he came here. He sighs. It's a lot of pressure to change yourself, especially when you're a bit ~~lot~~ of a selfish coward.

And then he thinks about what Tiffany had said to him about honest work, which is another part of why he's trying to find out where to go with the divisions.]

One of the things I used to study before coming here was planar magic - mostly in relation to teleportation magic, you can sort of use one and the other together for travel and such - and there's somewhat of a parallel to that and the rifts as well as the Fade. I don't suppose that would be useful to Research? [hello i am awkwardly placing my resume in front of you after you have heard me commit a shameful act publicly.]

It's not really my area to say—I'm an alchemist, I don't know what exactly is useful to the study of the breach and the rifts and whatever the fuck the gates are, but there's really only one way to find out how you can be useful and it's by getting involved.

( it's not not useful, to have some background knowledge. )

We haven't got the funding or the manpower or the reputation that the Inquisition has. Wherever you sign up is going to need the extra help.

I see... [He wants to ask more about her experience with alchemy and how that works here - if it's different than how it is back where he's from. He never studied it but it was an interesting enough subject at least.

For now, it's probably better to stay focused on the current line of conversation.]

Who would I talk to if I wanted to join then?

[Somewhere on the other end of the line is the sound of raucous laughter. Oh— thank you for making this all too easy.

And, if that promised help was expected, well.

Lesson best learned early, Allumin: always get it in writing.

Ta, little fool.]

[he's so embarrassed and upset, but you know what it was indeed a fair lesson in exchange so he can't be THAT MAD

he is still going to be brainstorming some way to get him back for this though.]

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crystal;

when you gay panic on the discord voice chat in front of everyone

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public to private.

private in return, sobs with gratitude

private ∞

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