(no subject)

[necromanswers]

♥ Who: Lup + Close CR (who will be contacted! <3)
♥ Where: Lup's house
♥ When: start of August
♥ What: A ladies (kinda) night, the redux!
♥ Rating: PG and up, probably


Those who Lup deigned to grace with an invitation will receive one at random: that at the recipient's convenience if they so desire, they are invited to join her in what she is calling (without explanation) a Pocket Dimension Party. As per the instructions, any time within the next 24 hours, they can enter through the garden back door and "find the cat".

Should one accept the invitation and follow those instructions, they can find Ditto curled up in the grass beside the house, dozing, though at the arrival of any visitor he perks up and stretches. Rubbing up against their legs, Ditto will head over to a section of the wall and paw at a corner, until a door abruptly glimmers into existence and opens for him. He meows plaintively and waits. Go on in! Just close the door behind you.

Inside the doorway, visitors will find… a mansion. Elaborately decorated, warm, and inviting, it is like entering a rich and immaculate house that someone's taken a lot of time and TLC to make perfect. No one greets them as they enter, but if they call for attention and no one is in the immediate vicinity, a semi-transparent spectral servant will arrive and guide them to Lup. Otherwise, they are free to explore the house and make use of the facilities as they please.

The following areas are available:

• An extravagant entrance hall with soft wood paneling and fancy art on the walls
  
• A lounge area with big fluffy couches, pillows, and blankets, as well as a projection screen that works with communicators and whatever digital media Lup is familiar with, or a music mix in lieu of said media being played
  
• A full-service kitchen and dining area, where a collection of spectral servants (features to be determined) will upon request cook any meal a person desires, assuming they (and by association Lup) are familiar with the recipe and ingredients. It's all delicious, too!
  
• A sizable basement with regenerating training dummies, various targets, and more servants who will act as moving targets on request. They can't be hurt, but they can move around freely.
  
• A big and beautiful spa with all the soaps and pampering material that anyone could ask for
  
• A "pet room", AKA a room devoted to toys, climbing shelves, cat trees- whatever an animal might want to stay entertained for hours unsupervised

More details to be added as needed! This is a mingle free-for-all, there is no set schedule. Visitors can come and go as they please for 24 hours, and at the end of the spell anyone still inside will be summarily booted out into the garden.

Comments

[scourgingstars]

[era did you lose that metaphor a little...]

Hm...I doubt it would suit me very well. I haven't the finesse or dexterity for quite such a style, and our magic is flashy enough as it is.

[In return he held out his other hand, massive scarlet Rakshasa Blade appearing with its hilt extended towards her.]

[astralera]

[ Era is about to retort when suddenly there is a big, beautiful sword being extended toward her.

Her tail perks up, immediately vibrating with her excitement. ]

May I?

[scourgingstars]

Go ahead--just be careful with it, it's quite important to me.

[astralera]

It's longer than I'm used to, but if I dull the edge I can mend it!

[ She hasn't wielded a greatsword since a shortly before the loss of Hades, and she has all but lit up at the prospect of being able to use one again, even if for a brief period.

When she takes the sword from Ardyn it's with the firm, confident grip of someone well-versed with heavy blades. Her tail wiggles more intently and she lifts it with one arm, testing the weight.

A bit heavy, though if she kept up with her training it would be more manageable. She wraps her other hand around the hilt and sinks into a battle stance, sliding her feet the right width apart and testing the length.

Era experiments with it a few moments longer, then leaps at the striking dummy with a single Plunge.

She's so overwhelmed by delight that she pauses before properly starting, drawing the blade close and giving an excited, bouncy little dance. ]

It's beautiful, Ardyn!

[scourgingstars]

[...good heavens.]

[Sure, he'd assumed she could handle it with little problem, but assuming that and seeing a small woman swinging an enormous sword were two different things entirely. Very impressive, and more than a little shocking.]

...my, you really are skilled with that.

[astralera]

[ It's as Era's focus returns to her target that Esteem materializes at Ardyn's flank, wearing Era's form. They're dressed in a notably different outfit than the one Era has on, and when they speak the voice is the same, but the accent much rougher. ]

«Don't freak out, brother.»

[ Their words are playful; teasing. They smile, and while there is no hostility in it there is a dark edge to it that Era's lacks.

Meanwhile, Era leaps upward and shoots a dark blast of energy at one of the targets on the back wall, then takes a few expert, powerful swings at the training dummy. Ardyn's blade is now cloaked in stygian flames, and Era herself has wisps of Dark energy swirling around her.

Her almost childish delight remains unchanged save for the focus she put into each movement she makes. ]

[scourgingstars]

[At which Ardyn did exactly that, practically jumping a mile in the air.]

Wh--E-Era--?! Oh, gods, I've started seeing things again.

[astralera]

[ ... Okay, they didn't want to fuck with him that badly. Seeing no other alternative for the moment, Esteem tugs at Era's aether enough to pull her focus away from the thrill of 'combat'.

Era stops, mid-swing, and looks in their direction. Confused— ]

...I didn't call for you.

«Did you really think I would miss out on another girls night?»

[ That earns Esteem a shrewd look. Really? ]

«Am I not allowed to talk about cute boys?»

[ Era snorts, trying to hold back a laugh. ]

«You may want to assure your brother that he hasn't lost what's left of his mind.»

[ —Ah. That sobers her up rather abruptly. Era hefts the sword over her shoulder, angled in a way where the edge won't cut into her clothing, and quickly makes her way back to Ardyn. Esteem moves to stand beside her. ]

This is my Darkside, Esteem.

[scourgingstars]

[what]

[what]

...So...you can see her too, right?

[Never hurt to be sure.]

[astralera]

[ Now much more aware of what's happened, Era shoots Esteem a disgruntled look. Then, remembering she currently has a sword, immediately cleaves her Darkside with it.

Esteem staggers, form destabilizing around the wound. There is no blood, only wisps of shadow. They let out a slew of curses under their breath, but there's a grin on their face.

Era frowns at them, annoyed— ]

You're supposed to be the smart one.

«I'm you.»

I'll hit you again if you don't piss off for a bit.

[ Esteem's grin widens, clearly finding the threat to be rather appealing, but they dissipate in a swirl of shadow and flecks of sparkling aether — not unlike those that radiate from her Carbuncle.

Era turns her attention back to Ardyn looking deeply apologetic; her shoulders sag, and her tail droops behind her. She (reluctantly) holds his sword out for him to take back, blade cutting into her hands as it's too big for her to (safely) hold out hilt-first. Superficial wounds, easy enough to heal with a single spell. She isn't concerned. ]

...Apologies. They've a bad habit of doing as they like, regardless of my input.

[scourgingstars]

[oh cool that's all way worse]

I-it's fine. I'm sorry. [He brushed the whole thing off as best as he could, quickly shaking his head. Glancing to her hands with some slight worry, he took back the Rakshasa Blade and handed her rapier back in turn.]

...I'm flattered you like it so much. [That was much easier to focus on than whatever the hell just happened.]

[astralera]

You've nothing to be sorry for, Ardyn.

[ She takes back her rapier and puts it back into her inventory, taking out an old towel to wipe the blood from her palms as she heals the cuts there.

That all handled, she stuffs the dirtied towel into her inventory again. ]

I am a Dark Knight. One who empowers themselves with their inner darkness to protect those in need of it.

...I just happen to have a large amount of aether, so Darkside has the unusual habit of manifesting itself occassionally.

[scourgingstars]

...

[He shifted a little uncomfortably, both hands around Rakshasa's hilt and the blade pointed downwards. He didn't dismiss it yet, as if the presence itself was a comforting one as he looked to where Esteem has been standing.]

No, I truly would like to apologize. I fear my surprise has rather brought down a pleasant mood, I hope you can forgive that. You've a remarkable talent with greatswords, I'm very impressed.

[astralera]

Your 'surprise' was understandable, Ardyn. The blame lays on solely Esteem. They should've known better.

[ She stares at the sword again, noting some of her blood on it. The towel is once again brought out and she moves forward to expertly wipe away any filth. ]

I taught myself to wield the greatsword after I gave up on healing. What use was healing magic if I couldn't save the ones I loved? I thought by being their shield instead I could keep them safe from ever being harmed in the first place.

[ Satisfied that the blade is clean, Era puts away the towel and stands up straight once again. ]

What is its name?

[scourgingstars]

It was...forged together with a matching twin. We were taught to wield them from a very young age by a man that most called the Blademaster.

[Ardyn gripped the hilt a little more securely, lost in thought.]

...When I first came to Niflheim, this sword was all I had left of those days--rather, the only thing I had left whatsoever. Even should I have a distaste for fighting, being parted from it would be as losing an arm.

It's called the Rakshasa Blade; its twin is known now as the Blade of the Mystic.

[astralera]

A gift from those who raised you?

[ Era can't think of any other reason he would be given such a beautiful blade at such a young age, considering what she knows of him. ]

...I understand what that is like, to some extent. [ She had nothing at all, save for knowledge she hadn't let learned she knew. ] And I believe you are thinking of it the wrong way, brother. For someone of your nature... Your sword is not for fighting — it is for protecting.

Rakshasa has served you well, and will continue to serve you well if you allow it.

What is the name of its twin?

[scourgingstars]

...I think so. My memory so far back is a little too hazy to trust, but I know they were given to us by our parents.

[He smiled faintly, as if her correction had been encouraging--however slightly.]

It was the Yaksha Blade when I knew it, but that was long ago.

[astralera]

Then it is most certainly a blade forged with the purpose to protect. It's no wonder it stays with you, even now.

[ She says it with utmost certainty. ]

'Yaksha'... That is a proper name. Not a pretentious title. [ Era rolls her eyes a little, tone playfully mocking: ] 'Blade of the Mystic', really.

[scourgingstars]

...I don't honestly know where it came from, myself. Perhaps he learned some talent for magic at some point.

[astralera]

Perhaps.

[ Most likely subsequent generations took a few liberties. ]

I learned a bit learned more about your family's abilities, you know.

[ ...She realizes she had meant to ask more about them, but got kind of... sidetracked... Oops. ]

What do you know of them?

[scourgingstars]

...What do you mean? I should hope I know a fair bit of them.

[astralera]

...Can you do the cool armiger thing?

[scourgingstars]

The-...? Do you mean this?

[Rakshasa vanished from his hands, and at a slight gesture a handful of nameless blades made of magenta light appeared in a flash of crystal shards, rotating around him slowly.]

1/2

[astralera]

[ Era stares at the numerous blades floating around him in a way that makes it very apparent she's never seen the armiger before. ]

...That is really swivving cool.

2/2

[astralera]

[ ... ]

...

[ Era's gaze shifts from the armiger to Ardyn, and her expression looks significantly less impressed. ]

...And you never showed me before, why?