(no subject)

[overworker]

Who: Towa Herschel and OPEN/various
When: Throughout March
Where: Throughout Aefenglom
What: Quests and various monthly meetings
Warnings: potential NSFW topics in Quests I, sexual content developing within threads

Quests

I. L'Amourtentia (Adults Only/NSFW potential)

[This month, there were quite a lot of requests that the city needed help with and as always, Towa took it upon herself to help out where her skills saw fit. Brewing some potions hardly seemed out of her capability. The nature of the potion itself didn't escape her, but she wasn't entirely shy about working with the materials-- just because she wanted to help didn't mean she was curious, right? At least that's what she hoped people would think.

Unfortunately, she's not very subtle when it came to matters of lying or hiding things. No, she's not good at it at all. Luckily though, she is good at making the aphrodisiac brew. Her attention to detail and skill with similar magical tasks made her a good fit for the task on a technical level.

Working in silence is no fun. At some point she's going to try and talk to the others helping out.]

I... didn't realize they used something like this at their establishments. It must be pretty popular if they need all the extra help.

[...yeah, she's not interested at all.]

II. Research Request

[Spending her days surrounded by books is nothing new to Towa. So the request for a bit of research is actually Towa's favorite. Unfortunately, Towa has an unfortunate habit when it comes to the actual process of collecting the books she wants. Even with the various ladders set up, when the upper shelves are involved well... she's just short.

But she always ends up pushing herself to try and reach them despite her stature.]

Wahh--!!

[Catch her before she bruises her butt-- or maybe you're just a victim that catches her (or the book) unwillingly because you're not prepared for it. Either way... timber]

Magic Studies

I. A Little Illusion

[The park is a good place to test out her illusion magic-- and more than that, it's a good place to find people. And today, well... this practice isn't one she wants to do on her own.]

Sorry... do you have a few moments? I was looking for someone who wouldn't mind helping me with a little magic practice.

[Monster or witch, it doesn't matter. She'll be the one doing the magic.]

It's been a while... I don't want to get rusty, when it could really come in handy with the serious quests coming up. And I'm a little concerned-- I've been having... some strange issues lately, when it comes to really using my illusion magic at it's full potential.

[What she's running into, she's fairly certain, is the effect of her magic on her body. But it's rather troublesome. So she'd like to practice with it a little and see just how bad it is before she tries putting it to use in a serious setting.]

If you don't mind, I'd like someone to... keep an eye out on me.

[If you agree, she'll explain better, don't worry.]

Comments

for Edelgard: A Little Night Music

[overworker]

[Always the type to keep tabs on her friends, Towa knew that Edelgard had been going through several unpleasant changes-- the most unpleasant, in her opinion. While she always knew it was coming, this was the first close friend she's had make it to that stage.

What she did know was that after that, Edelgard deserved something nice. So she wanted to do something that the other girl could enjoy and relax for a little while. That's why she asked her if she would be available one evening to get together for a bit.

That allowed her to prepare a nice little gathering around a bench in a corner of the park. There are small candles set up-- with the proper magic to keep them safe from being blown out or catching fire with any of the natural elements around them.

She's also brought her piano. It's a simple one that she'd bought for herself after a few months of lessons so that she could practice on her own when Elliot was out without troubling him to use his things. It was turning out to be a good investment.

So when Edelgard arrives, she'll arrive to the gentle sounds of music-- a peaceful, soft tune floating through the air greeting her.]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard had happily agreed to spending an evening with Towa. She hadn't exactly made what had finally happened a secret to people on the council, or people that she liked, really only requesting they keep it to themselves. Having a moment to relax, spending with with the other young woman? That was a welcome opportunity.

She wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but when she arrived, shifting from her bat-form into her human shape and landing just outside the ring of light, she paused. The sound of music was odd. Out of place. As though...]

Towa? You...brought a piano out of doors?

[Color her confused.]

[overworker]

[It doesn't surprise her that it might seem a little strange. Under normal circumstances, this isn't something you see very often. But really, that was part of the reason she thought it was a nice idea. It was different. Refreshing.]

Just a little portable one-- I bought this a while back when my music lessons started getting serious.

[It was convenient, although she supposed with magic, even a proper grand piano wouldn't be terribly difficult to get out here. But something that expensive certainly isn't for testing magic out on.]

I haven't really had the nerve to play for anyone besides my teacher before now.

[unyieldingmarch]

No?

[Making her way over, Edelgard settles into one of the seats. Or on the grass, if that's closer. She's not that particular.]

Well, I think you're doing just fine. I'm admittedly not the most experienced with piano music, but if this is your first performance you've got a true talent.

[overworker]

Mm.

[Towa nods. The melodies aren’t overly complicated— and it’s not quite technically perfect— but her playing has a lot of heart in it. Even in the open air, there are dynamics to it that lend themselves to her own emotional interpretation of the music.]

It’s been... over four months now since I began. I knew how to read music because I used to sing but... when it came to instruments, I was a total beginner starting from scratch. I wanted to make sure what I could play was good enough that people could enjoy it, even if it’s nothing fancy, before I shared it with anyone. But... I thought you might like it.

for Asahi: Meeting Friends

[overworker]

[After she and her friends had decided that a memorial for their lost friends would be a good idea, Towa had visited those small stones that represented various important people several times. She would occassionally talk to them, silly as it is.

Asahi was one of the people who had helped and comforted Towa at a time when talking about what was troubling her was difficult. She hadn't been able to explain well in the moment.

But she was ready now. Or as ready as she'd ever be. So she reached out to the girl, explaining that she'd like to show her the memorials and talk a little if she had time. It would probably be good for her to talk a bit about the friends she missed. And maybe it would be the same for Asahi. She knew that she'd like to know a little more about the other girl as well.

Rather than invite her in, she tells Asahi to meet her in the back yard. There's a garden, first and foremost, but the memorials are in a different corner-- although one of them has it's own rose bushes standing out amidst the rest.]

Thanks for coming. Sorry if this was pretty sudden.

[integrous]

[ Asahi shakes her head. ]

No, it's alright. I can make time whenever.

[ For friends, she almost says, but it feels awkward calling Towa as much. Not that there's a problem with the other girl - she seems nice, and Asahi was glad to help her last time around if what she did helped at all. But it's just her own paranoia and worry about actually calling people friends that stops her.

But that doesn't mean she minds coming over when Towa contacts her. Quite the opposite. Asahi did show up pretty quickly, after all.. ]

Are the memorials somewhere around here..?

[overworker]

Yes, they’re just a little further.

[Towa stays close, leading Asahi past the different designated areas that belonged to Fie’s garden.]

My friend was using a good portion of the backyard for her garden, so we figured it wouldn’t hurt to keep them close to home in the space that we had left.

[Once they reach the allotted space, she’ll see four separate markers have been made. Each of them has their own unique offerings. But the one Towa stops in front of first reads “Angelica Rogner”. The plate itself is fairly simple, but there is a small offering of flowers in purple and red hues sitting out front, tied together with a ribbon not unlike the one in Towa’s hair.]

They’re all important people to us, for different reasons— but this... this one... is for my best friend, Angie.

[integrous]

[ At least despite the strange city they're in, the markers seem familiar. Despite the fact that their friends must have died back home rather than here, it does kind of feel like a resting place, almost.. It's enough to make Asahi a bit more quiet than normal as she stares at the memorial, a hand idly reaching up to rub her other arm, like she's almost getting goosebumps.

Maybe it's better to focus on the less sad sides of this, huh? ]

You should tell me something about her.

[overworker]

Where to start...

[There is a fondness in the way her lip twitches upward thinking about that.]

Angie was the daughter of one of the four large noble houses back home, but she was never really what anyone expected her to be. She was a martial artist and a huge flirt. There wasn’t a girl alive that Angie wouldn’t hit on. Despite being a noble with every right, she didn’t judge anyone based on class or superficial things like that.

[Memories bubble to the surface, and Towa giggles softly.]

She loved her motorcycle and just... living her life the way she wanted to, not the way others believed she should.[...] She was a good person.

for Prompto: Lunch Date

[overworker]

Prompto!

[She'd been meaning to catch up with Prompto properly for a little while now. Remembering that he'd been a fan of noodles, she decided to invite him out on a little lunch date so they could finally do that. Towa was running a little late-- although she'd messaged him to warn him she'd be catching up with him. So she slides into her seat after he's already found them a table.]

Thanks for waiting. I'm sorry I got a bit caught up in my research.

[Although really, she's only five or ten minutes behind, but she'd still take it seriously even if it was only one or two minutes.]

[clickclickbang]

You're fine! I literally just got us the table.

[Prompto is so glad his tail still isn't back, otherwise it'd be going nuts right now.]

Perfect timing, though, since I think we barely beat the lunch rush.

[overworker]

Oh good, I’m glad to hear it.

[She takes a sip of the water, smiling.]

Yeah, as nice as the restaurant atmosphere is, I like coming before it gets too crowded. You get a better choice of seats— and honestly I rarely eat a big breakfast.

[So she loves lunch time.]

[clickclickbang]

I used to not, and then I moved in with Caren and...you saw what that's like in our house, and that was before Steak and Wine moved in.

[Monster chaos.]

Anyway, research?

I

[fiddlestick]

[Even if Elliot was busy with infirmary and music work, he still did make an effort to help out at the Bracer guild. And with all his work with cwyld salve making has made him pretty good at alchemy, it'd make sense to help out with a request to brew potions.

Even if it, ah, was made to scratch a different itch.

He feels a little sheepish working on this thing, his cheeks a little pink the whole time. When Towa speaks up, he clears his throat]

A-Ah...yeah. There's actually a holiday in the summer you find this stuff being sold everywhere. I-I think I remember this place being pretty busy.

["Thinks". Not...he used one of theirs rooms after hooking up with someone after having some potion.]

[overworker]

[At least considering this is Elliot she’s talking to, it’s certainly less awkward than it could have been. Or at least, that’s what she thought. Her questions certainly seemed to give Elliot something to think about the way he stutters around his answers a bit. Whether she wanted to be or not she couldn’t help but be curious.]

...there has to be something to it if it’s that popular.

[They did offer her a sample if she wanted it, but she hadn’t been sure if she should accept. There was an additional reward for testing it however— that would mean she needed a willing partner.

But this was technically a magical item. She wouldn’t presume anyone would be comfortable trying it without asking.]

Huh... I guess I probably would have missed that, since summer was almost over by the time I arrived.

[She hums, looking at it.]

I wonder if it’s really that good...

[That’s more to herself, but it’s still said loud enough that he’d hear her just fine.]

[fiddlestick]

[He knows Towa pretty well to know her tone when she's interested in something personally without wanting to admit to it. It's not entirely surprising. Something like this does invoke some curiosity naturally.

But he won't call her out on it directly, since that'd probably be mortifying. Instead, he'll confess to maybe knowing more than he'd normally tell people]

W-Well...from what I remember, it's fairly potent. Not so much you'd do something against your will, but...

[Yeah. It gets you horny.]

[overworker]

[Towa had a feeling that he knew more than he was saying just from the way he’d reacted initially, but likewise, she didn’t want to make him talk about it if he wasn’t comfortable sharing. The fact that he was willing to say that much just to satisfy her curiosity was more than he really needed to do already.]

Oh... well. I suppose I can see why some people might like it then.

[It’s probably a rush, in some way. That kind of intense desire...

Maybe she shouldn’t think about it too hard.]

I -because why not?

[eluci]

Guess they have to stay in business somehow.

[He doesn't frequent those establishments, mostly out of disinterest. He's here because they were advertising for help and he wasn't turned away as soon as they realized he wasn't a normal human. The potion isn't difficult to brew--or so he thinks--but he's still surreptitiously checking out Towa's batch to see if they're similar looking and smelling.

Besides that, just being in here is making his head slightly fuzzy.]

because why no(c)t?!!

[overworker]

[Ah. Right. It was more than just a service— it was, in its own way, a smart business venture on their part, considering the business they ran.]

I guess that’s one way to do it. But that makes me wonder... if there isn’t something possibly addicting about using these kinds of methods. It is magic after all... it’s a little harder to tell than if it was a drug.

[Then again, people were capable of getting addicted to a rush or high even without something to cause it so maybe it sold itself.]

It certainly has a unique scent.

[He’s not the only one it’s getting to a little.]

Haha, I love it.

[eluci]

[Noctis probably isn't the best person to ask about addiction, as he doesn't know much about it. He doesn't consider himself addicted to anything, even if the cat part of him really, really likes catnip.]

It's nice...is it possible to become addicted to magic? Maybe its effects...?

[overworker]

I mean... I do feel as though I've become addicted to using it, if that makes any sense. Before I came here, magic wasn't used like this back home. So I definitely feel like I've been spoiled by having so much power.

[There are a lot of things she could do with it that simply would have been impossible any other way. Enough that when it was lost briefly during the winter storm, she'd felt a little lost for a bit. That was, in it's own way, not unlike an addiction.]

Magic Studies

[loadme]

[Illusion magic is one the fields Monika had been focusing on since the day she arrived. She considered herself pretty adept and knowledgeable at it by now, though she continued to practice just as often as when she first started. Just because she was good was no reason to get complacent!

Honestly, she had more of a drive than ever to keep getting better at her magic. All thanks to... recent events.]

Sure, I don't mind.

[Her reaction to Towa's question is a little less energetic, though. It's not that she doesn't like her. It's a matter of, well...

It's complicated.]

Do I just need to watch?

[overworker]

[Although she doesn't know Monika very well personally, she's heard her fair share about her from Natsuru-- and with that, it's hard not to have a positive image of the other girl.]

Monika-- thank you. I really appreciate it.

[As for her question, that's a bit more complicated. So it's probably time Towa explained the situation a little better.]

Hopefully, yes. Witches can develop certain affects based on the kind of magics that they use the most. For example... I have a friend who's focus is primarily on healing magic. As a result though, his body has begun healing itself when he gets injured-- and placing those injuries on others.

[She wanted to give at least one other example before--]

For me, it's... losing my sense of awareness when I'm in my own illusions. The lines of reality and illusion blur and they can sometimes affect me.

[loadme]

[Talking about "reality" was always a bit of a heavy subject for Monika. Being able to tell the difference between something that was real and something that was... fake. Honestly, she could've spent hours just talking about her own feelings towards it. Ah, but that wasn't what Towa was looking for.]

I think I know what you mean.

I study illusion magic a lot, too.

[One of her main areas of focus, really.]

You said I should "hopefully" just watch.

What else do you need me to do if something goes wrong?