Open + Closed prompts/ Catch all

[iustaegis]

♥ Who: Pyra and various.
♥ Where: Around Town
♥ When: Around Jan
♥ What: One General OPEN Prompt + Catch-all!
♥ Rating: E for everyone, will update if necessary

Hand-holding
[ Have a woman with short, red hair wave and then approach you, whether or not she knows you. Her presence is warm, and her smile is even warmer. She offers a hand. Easy enough, right? This is the simplest method to generate some of this contact-energy and get money out of it, too.  ] 

Would you like to go for a walk?

Catch-All
[ This is a catch-all for January! Top Levels to follow below. If you'd like a thread for this month, HMU with a wildcard below (Pyra can be found just about anywhere around town), PM me or PP me at drinksteapots! ] 

Comments

[iustaegis]

[ Verstael had mentioned there was another who had helped him with welding. That is someone here for him, and unlike whoever that person is, Pyra has only recently gotten to know this man. Yet even she can tell that--

He loves his empire. This seems fairly obvious, of how he spoke of his Radiance, his nation; how he yet wears his imperial garb, how even his ambitions in this world could potential instill his emperor as leader. It is a very profound, loyal adoration the likes of which she's never seen before, and one that pushes him to forward-- just look at what he's managed to accomplish so far: these experiments, this research, this laboratory... They tell of a driven man.

But how driven. How far does that loyalty go. She decides to press. ]

Would you be willing to embrace change, if you could save that which you love? 

[original_is_best]

It may be necessary to do so.

[And with the heavy sigh that followed his resistance to the idea became clear. So much research to be lost. It was difficult to let go even though it was the correct path to take.

It was like a speeding train fixed on one path suddenly needing to be diverted to another. The sharp turn ahead was difficult and distressing.]

It may be that some of my research will go... awry.

[A hesitant admission of being wrong.

He wasn't often wrong.]

[iustaegis]

[ While she has only known this man for a few months, she knows that he's passionate about his work. One doesn't get to building a laboratory like this out of almost-nothing in a completely different world with only meager motivation, after all. ]

How do you mean?

[ Research can go wrong, as far as she understands, as no one is perfect. Errors in tools, human errors, errors in analysis, conclusions... the list goes on. But the way he says things makes her wonder if he's speaking of something unprecedented. ]

[original_is_best]

It would seem that the plague spreads at an alarming rate in the future.

[He distanced himself from it. It was a thing that happened. Not something he did.

But he was concerned about himself. His actions. How far things might have ended up going. He didn't want to believe it.]

[iustaegis]

[ He did mention that in the future, his world becomes infected with the plague and enshrouded in darkness....

Cautiously-- ]

You... [ --Cautiously and slowly: ] can't be suggesting that your research triggers that darkness. Or accelerates it overtaking...?

[ Is one man capable of such a thing? No, no, there was this Ardyn, too. ]

[original_is_best]

[There was a clear reluctance on his part to answer.]

It may be.

[iustaegis]

[ Her eyes widen. No; this would not be easy to hear for him, she suspects. ]

But... [ Troubled, her gaze flits down from him, then back up to meet his eyes. He doesn't want this to happen, if only because it might herald the fall of his beloved Empire. ] You seem so cautious with your experimentation. [ Or at least, here he does. She does not know if that is the case back in his homeworld. ]

[original_is_best]

Yes. I have been able to contain it for years.

[After all, here he was, uncontaminated. Much as he tried to remain impassive, he couldn't. He grimaced in response, glancing away slightly.]

It would seem some of what I wished to do... went poorly.

[iustaegis]

[ Noticing the glance away, she pauses before she speaks next. This troubles him. Of course it would trouble anyone; no one would wish to hear something they've been working upon causing such devastation. He had been playing with fire, that much is obvious. She wonders if this future self of his had underestimated that flame, or if something else catalyzed it to grow beyond his fail-safes.

She isn't of his world, perhaps she has no right to know. But she is here now, and... ] I... apologize, if I ask too much, and I am not of your world, but... [ Another pause follows with her hand gently giving a squeeze upon his shoulder, as if it might be reassuring, to let him know that she is there. He's trusting her with this much of his current research. Perhaps that means something. ] I will listen, if you wish to speak of these troubles. [ She looks at him, sympathetic but respectful. ] Your mind is brilliant... it is difficult to imagine your efforts corrupting.

[original_is_best]

I will be looking into it further. There is much left yet to learn, and only biased sources currently. Nothing will be accomplished without a clear plan of action.

[He could only get so far with what he had now. With a nod of his head he brushed it aside, not wanting to waste more time on something incomplete until he could have a better understanding. He tilted his head her way, though.]

I shall remember your offer.

[iustaegis]

You needn't be alone, in deciphering that path. [ And this is the most she can offer, an opportunity for him to talk. If not with her, then with others. And if not with others, then he may wallow alone, and that won't be conducive to any purpose.

The question remains, however, of how he might be certain that the path he's chosen will be the better one than the one already paved in a known future... or if he might make things worse than a world already wrapped in darkness.

Back to what they are doing here, however: ] ...But I will be here, to help with this project at least.

[original_is_best]

Yes. Whatever must be done at home, we still have much to do here.

[It will at least give him something to work on. He nodded towards the vial. Research was where he was most comfortable, and it was time they got back to it.]

You will contact me promptly when you have answers regarding the substance?

[iustaegis]

Yes. [ With a nod, she understands this that it is time they've parted for the day. They've accomplished enough here.

Finally removing her hand from his shoulder, she steps away. ] Take care, Besithia.

[original_is_best]

You as well.

[With a shallow nod that would serve as the slightest of bows, they parted ways for the time.]