KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

[lockedon]

[ He has an Image™ to maintain, thanks.

Hard to miss the difference between now and then, and the lack of vivacious energy makes him hesitate, a flicker of curious concern drifting across before he picks his words back up. ]

This is Eustace. We met during the last Oracle.

[ Where he called her a precious princess and an angel sent from above. Let's not dwell on that for too long. ]

I wanted to apologize for my actions from before. I wasn't—fully myself. [ To say the least. ]

[erbe]

Mm, [she acknowledges him with a quiet hum before following up.]

You did seem to come on a bit strong. Especially to someone you've never met before. No harm done, at least.

[This will not prevent her from turning it into a point which she gets to needle him with. Tohsaka does not intend to let him live it down.]

[lockedon]

[ Please, mercy.

But this is a far more gracious acceptance of his poor behavior than he was hoping for (maybe she really is a princess? —no). Not that he isn't grateful for it, and a thread of relieved gratitude snakes its way across. ]

Maybe not, but it was rude of me anyway.

[ And normally this is where he'd pivot and follow up with his next question, but the mood still seems a bit too gloomy. ]

Is this a bad time?

[erbe]

No.

[An immediate reply. Prickly — almost offended.]

I have simply been busy with my new shop, and that has resulted in some fatigue. It's normal.

[What is not normal is sleeping in said shop, not telling anyone you're experiencing difficulties, and rotating asking to swing by people's places for a quick shower.]

[lockedon]

[ Rin..................

Good thing they're strangers then, unfamiliar with each other's habits and preferences! Eustace takes her words at face value, not bothering to pry any deeper. If there is, in fact, something going on, it's not his place to ask about it anyway. ]

I do have a few questions about your business, if you have the time.

[erbe]

—Oh! I see, I see. You came to me like this because you're that embarrassed, are you? Very well! I shall have mercy and answer your questions.

[Because if he actually was curious this all could have gone there. He's not just sorry — this is the shame corner.]

[lockedon]

[ Hello??? ]

I simply didn't want to be interrupted.

[ This is the shame corner. ANYWAY. ]

What other types of magecraft do you specialize in, outside of aromatics?

[erbe]

The abilities you're already familiar with aren't enough? Well! It might be easier to ask me for a result and I'll tell you if I can achieve it. After all, I can attune to all five of the Great Elements. Versatility is my strong point.

[Versatility and adaptability in the face of adversity. Sure, she usually falls back on "if I can't logic my way out I'll just blow it up," but... you know, blowing things up usually solves the problem. Or just gives her a different one! And then the parameters of getting the issue fixed have changed, and possibly become easier to navigate.]

[lockedon]

[ That's a lotta big boasts from a small girl....if he hadn't seen her in action, he would have dismissed her entirely. ]

Nothing of that magnitude. I'm looking for something closer to a tracking spell.

[erbe]

Hm, do you want to track something that has already gotten away from you? Or do you want to locate something already missing?

[Because the situation will determine the approach.]

[lockedon]

[ Good question. It takes him a bit to puzzle out how to put his intent into understandable words. ]

I want to put some sort of identifying marker on an object so that if it goes missing, I can find it later. [ A preventative measure rather than a band-aid for an already existing problem. ] Is that possible?

[erbe]

Actual object, or person?

[lockedon]

[ The ease of her question catches him off-guard. ]

...An object wearable by a person. [ Though now he has to wonder: ] Is it that easy to cast something like that on a living being?

[erbe]

No. But an object can always be misplaced, lost, or stolen. It can be chosen not to be worn one day. It can be broken. It would be harder to trace a person, but to do so would mean a direct path rather than a possible dead end.

[Tohsaka answers quickly. If only because she already had this follow up prepared. If you're worried about losing a necklace, then track the necklace. If you're worried about losing the person wearing the necklace, then you better hope they actually put it on.]

[lockedon]

[ She has a point, but: ]

And that doesn't feel like a violation of privacy to you?

[erbe]

Mm, what do I care? Perhaps somewhere normal it would be some evidence of distrust, but with the way we shard-bearers get kidnapped and killed here I find it hard to bring up a solid argument either way.

Besides, I'm not looking to track anybody. You are.

[lockedon]

That's why I asked about an object, not a person.

[ As convenient as it would be to know where someone is at all times, it doesn't sit well with him. Though the mention of kidnapping does remind him of something else. ]

You were one of the ones that were kidnapped, weren't you?

[ Hard to forget entirely when two separate people mention it on two separate occasions. ]

[erbe]

...That's quite the jump. What makes you think that?

[Who would even had said anything to him? Also was he too floored by her "princess-ness" to mention he had met people who knew her, if so? She couldn't have been that easy to read... could she?

It's possible. After all, she had been running into quite the unfortunate string of failures. Perhaps just another to add to the list.]

[lockedon]

Because I was told so.

[ And while he's never been the type to believe everything he's told, because there's plenty of false information circulating out there, he does trust information when they come from certain sources. ]

By a woman named Gavial, and a girl named Gray.

[ Gavial might be a stranger but he would trust Gray with his life. ]

[erbe]

[Gavial she could argue, but Gray? Tohsaka is much to soft on Gray to deny her anything.]

I see. So what's your point?

[She does not like this. Her whole demeanor becoming closed off and guarded because of her previous vulnerability and helplessness sickens her. She hates it.]

[lockedon]

[ He could be nice to her. Probably should be kinder to her due to her relationship with Gray. But Kenos has taken too much from him in the months he's been here, and he finds he's less willing to explain himself to strangers these days.

Abruptly: ]

Did you also suffer from high Discord levels afterwards?

[erbe]

You come here to apologize and then interrogate me like a criminal? What did I do, kick your puppy?

[Absurd. The only puppy she'd kick is Gen.]

[lockedon]

[ Wow, don't kick Gen, that's his child. :/ This leap of logic though... ]

If I were interrogating you like a criminal, you would know. [ This is just his normal every day behavior, unfortunately. ] I'm just trying to see if there are any similarities between people who were experimented on.

[erbe]

[She'll stop kicking him when he unlearns toxic masculinity.]

Discord accrual seems to be partially based on stress, so it wouldn't be surprising if someone came out of that situation with increased symptoms. What's your sample size? After all, it's not like I was alone.

[She wonders if he has Dokja on his mind or if it's someone else.]