un: fox rain

[foxable]

[ There's a muffled sound of someone talking, before a rustle and then Fox's voice coming in clearer over the crystals: ]

Alright folks, thanks to our local resident sorcerer, I've figured out a spell I've been meaning to offer. I just want to say that this is totally voluntary - it involves tattoos, which I know not everyone is keen about, but I think considering where we're headed, and how we've been travelling...

Well.

Let's just say I would rather we don't lose people and only find out they fell off a mountain like two days later.

Okay, anyway, so with all that preamble:

I'm offering small 'emergency broadcast' tattoos. I couldn't think of a better name for them, but you know, hit me up if you can think of a better moniker. It can be whatever you want - I can work the runes into a specialized design - or it can be small and hidden somewhere on your person. Essentially, when you aren't able to send out a help signal to the rest of us, and are in grave danger or are severely wounded, it will message our quartz network directly, and let us know that you're in trouble.

It, um, will also let us know if you're alive or dead or not.

Anyway, I know it's kind of morbid, but considering everything we've been going through... Well.

I'd just rather know that everyone's okay, I guess. Especially when we get separated.

So. If you want one, hit me up. If you don't want one, you can always come find me when you change your mind.

Comments

un: deft hand of little deaths [Voice]

[scrapgege]

Isn't there a way to put this on a talisman instead?

[He's... not really keen on another tattoo.]

un: fishcious rumors [Voice]

[royal_venant]

[ This is after an almost panic attack somewhere private, just him, petting Patricia until he can talk again. His voice is clearly not steady. ]

I second this. Is there a way we could put this on an item we can carry?

[ He's got a Mark already on his body, thank you. 0/10, would not recommend. ]

[foxable]

Ummmm, yes and no.

Not easily. Is the answer. Tattoo magic kind of comes with some inherent properties, yeah? It's like, um, being on fiber wire instead of dial-up, yeah? [ A pause. ] Okay so that might not make sense depending on what, um, timelines, uh...

Okay. It's like having a guy right next to you versus a guy throwing something at you from a block away. The guy right next to you can deliver his message instantly, know that you got it, and confirm any questions. If the guy down the street throws his message at you tied to a rock, it could miss, and even if it doesn't it still takes longer to get to you.

On you, a tattoo can react to your condition without you having to react to it. I could make a talisman - like a necklace or something - do it, but it would take me a lot more time and won't be as effective. And I'd have to ask Karsa how to tie in the magic to the quartz from that angle.

Um - anyway long story short, yes, there's a way. I designed the spell with tattoos in mind just because it's the most immediately effective.

[ ... also, you know, if you guys need help with Evil Tattoos, hit him up...? ]

[royal_venant]

[ Ya, he had to take another moment to come down from a near panic. He had a magic tattoo that did everything already listed on the can. And he would not do that again. Voice still unsteady. ]

I will not be getting one.

[foxable]

[ Fox is not the most insightful person in the world, but he isn't completely devoid of it, and he can't help but pick up the unsteadyness. ]

No problem. Like I said, it's definitely only an opt-in thing.

You, um. You okay?

[royal_venant]

I'm fine.

[ Regulus was not fine, and he still sounded not fine. But he wasn't about to open up to everyone over the quartz. He just wasn't that kind of share-er. ]

[foxable]

[ There's a slight pause.

Then: ]

Good, good.

[ He does not sound convinced. He is not a great liar. Which is why there is no subtlety at all when he continues: ]

I could use some help, though. When you've got a minute. Got a lot of things to move. Heavy things. Stuff? Lots of stuff. To move.

If you, um. If you could help.

[scrapgege]

Oh. Well, never mind, then.

Besides, I don't really need those kind of things.

[foxable]

[ He laughs. ]

I mean - you so sure? I admit I saw you do some - um - pretty crazy shit during the seige, but uh-

-- okay wait are you invulnerable?

I didn't think it was possible but this place is really testing my beliefs in the laws of nature.

[scrapgege]

I can get hurt, but I can't really die from any of it, so...

[foxable]

That-

Wait that makes less sense. How can you get hurt but not die?



Do you turn into a zombie? I am really getting tired of zombies--

[scrapgege]

No, I don't. I just... don't die.

I'm not quite sure why, to be honest. It's probably a curse of some kind. But I know I won't die. People have tried to kill me a few times before and it's never worked.

[foxable]

[ A small pause. ]

... Creepy. Neat, but creepy. And- kind of sad?

How old are you, anyway?

[scrapgege]

Hmmm... I think a bit over eight hundred years old now? Probably something around eight hundred and twenty. I've kind of lost exact count.

[foxable]

[ There is a long pause. ]

I would say you were fucking with me, but now zombies exist and I have absolutely no idea anymore.

Uh...

Well, you don't look a day over 30...? Is that even a compliment anymore??

[scrapgege]

I was seventeen when I ascended, and I haven't really changed much physically since then.

But thank you.