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

at le shop Edelstein...

[gravings]

[ After a poke and a request for directions via Communuion, Gray pokes her head into Rin's shop, fashionably dubbed Edelstein Aroma-Thaumaturgy. It immediately strikes her that this is as magelike a shop as she could have imagined, full of mysterious items and sporting the feeling of an elegant cave. Every mage is a shut-in at heart, by Gray's estimation.

She steps in cautiously, as if this could be a mage workshop full of boobytraps. ]

Hello...! It's me, Gray.

cw: needles and blood

[erbe]

C'min.

[Her voice is muffled through the cloth in her mouth. As Gray steps in she'll find that since it's a retail venue, that it's more welcoming than the typical workshop of a mage. Yet if Gray's eyes wander to the back corner to see Rin, she'll catch something odd. An elastic tie on her arm, a needle to her inner elbow, and the cloth in her mouth. Tohsaka recognizes Gray's voice, so she doesn't stop. Instead she continues to pull blood from herself. When the syringe is full, she'll pause.

Her syringe is set down, and she uses the cloth in her mouth to sterilize the tiny spot where she drew blood.]

Is there something you need?

[gravings]

[ Gray's gaze sweeps the contents of the shop — yep, highly magelike, even if it's been designed for public consumption — before finally focusing on Rin at the back of the stop. The blood-drawing gives her a moment's pause, but she swiftly files it away as "just mage stuff." Gray closes the door behind her. Her boots sound crisp in the close quiet of the room as she approaches. ]

I was wondering if I could request your magecraft... um, specifically, to make something like a Mystic Code.

[ She stops at the counter and looks curiously at Rin's arrangement. ]

Should I come back later?

[erbe]

Not at all. In fact, I'm almost finished.

[A few drops on each gem. They absorb the liquid like sponges. The magical energy soaking into them deeply. However by the crease on Tohsaka's brow it looks as if she is unsatisfied with the result.

"Only this much?" she complains, barely audible, before beginning to clean the supplies up and put them away.]

What type of Mystic Code are you interested it? I'm afraid I don't have the capability to replicate your scythe.

[gravings]

[ Seeing the jewels and Rin's blood up close, Gray suddenly recalls a similar sight from long ago: Luviagelita Edelfelt rubbing her own blood onto a jewel, only to use it as a makeshift pen to draw a magic circle on the ground. It doesn't seem like Rin is doing the same thing though; she must be storing magical energy in the gem, the same way Gray's mentor would store his pitiful amounts of magical energy into his hair. Either way, it feels a bit like something that would be more secret if they were back on Earth.

At mention of her scythe, Gray smiles, her tone lifting. ]

That's right. I forgot to mention that I was able to get my scythe back. It's part of why I wanted to make this request — it's for the person who helped me retrieve it.

[ She isn't sure if Rin knows Gen... but if she does, Gray wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get along. ]

My mentor used to smoke cigars that were Mystic Codes. Their smoke acted as Bounded Fields that could have a calming effect, or act as defensive magecraft. Do you think something like that would be possible?

[ She asks this question, but if her mentor could manage it, then she figures Rin can definitely do it. ]

[erbe]

Hm? Oh, yes those are fairly simple. I would I think the only concern would be finding a supply of tobacco previously untampered with. Who is it for?

[Maybe she can add a little extra something for free for doing a good deed for her friend Gray.]

[gravings]

Untampered...?

[ Is it common for people to tamper with tobacco? Gray really has no clue. ]

It's for Gen. Do you know him?

[ Fellow Zenites and all. ]

[erbe]

[Tohsaka considers cigarette tobacco "tampered with."]

Yeah. Japanese like me, kind of a jerk, and almost always has a cigarette at his lips. He's the one that got it back for you?

[Wow. He's softer than she gave him credit for. She'll have to note this for future reference.]

[gravings]

[ Gray won't attempt to refute the line about him being kind of a jerk. In fact, it solidifies that they're talking about the same Gen. ]

Yes, that's him. These cigarettes alone wouldn't be enough to thank him... but if they can help him even a little, I'll be glad.

[ Most of all, she'll feel better if the cigarettes can help protect him while she isn't around. He assured her that Silco doesn't know he stole back Add, but Gray still has her worries. ]

I know how he comes across, but I hope you can be friends with him. He's been very good to me.

[ Sometimes bad. But mostly good. ]

[erbe]

Mm, well... I don't think he wants to be friends. However I will be completely professional with your commission. My pride as a mage wouldn't allow anything less.

[It's not as if she hates Gen. In fact he's given her some valuable advice and she even was quite weak to his earnestness as a child during the Exalt Oracle. Tohsaka begins clearing her counter and cleaning her supplies to prepare for the next project.]

Soothing enemies and protective barriers... is there anything else you had in mind?

[gravings]

[ Well, Gray tried. She can't stop Gen from being Gen. ]

That's all I can think of at the moment. Um, the more cigarettes the better, but I'm not sure about the cost...

[ Gray is frugal by default, so it isn't like her wallet is hurting, but she doesn't have much frame of reference for how much mages charge for their services. Such a practice was rare in an environment like the Clock Tower, where people would rather have favors and influence than money they could easily obtain from the "outside" world. ]

[erbe]

[It doesn't help that Rin and Gen are opposing Aspects. They're bound to be on each others nerves on a fundamental level. However the more Rin learns about Gen the more she finds she wants to rip his tough guy mask off his face. Hypocritical of her, but she's always been a bit one-sided about these things.]

Oh, don't worry. I'll give you a discount as a thank you for allowing me to use your shower. I'll fill one case for him. How does ten sound?

[It's only half a normal pack, but it will fill the special case she has in mind. A little extra thrown in from her not only for helping Gray, but for allowing Rin to have his blood not too long ago. Besides... ten is a lot as far as magical cigarettes are concerned. She won't have him going through 20 like some kind of maniac chain smoker when they're this valuable. Besides... if he likes them she'll want him coming back and paying full price!]

[gravings]

[ Ten cigarettes doesn't sound like a whole lot to Gray, especially with how Gen goes through them, but she supposes she can always see about getting more as needed. And, she has to remind herself, these won't be just cigarettes, but products of magecraft. ]

Okay. Whenever they're ready, please let me know.

[ With that business taken care of, she glances around curiously, paying more attention to what's actually on the shelves. ]

Have you applied magecraft to all of these?

[erbe]

Your request shouldn't take more than three days. As for my stock, no. Magecraft I consider a customized addition and as such would require an extra fee. What you see on the shelves are simple products made with mundane purpose. My talent and experience are both too valuable to sit on a shelf to be easily lifted.

[She has her own pride as a mage, after all!]

You're free to browse if you like. Let me know if anything catches your interest.

[AKA: let me brag and talk your ear off.]

[gravings]

[ Gray turns her attention more earnestly to the items on the shelves, thinking that she should support Rin and her new enterprise as much as she can. And she does like how everything Rin has gifted her has smelled, so she can be assured of Rin's taste...

Just as her defenses lower, a rowdy male voice crashes through the calm of the shop. The source: the depths of Gray's cloak. ]

Ihihihi! It'll take more than some fancy soaps to broaden your appeal, idiot Gray!

[erbe]

Gray, if you ever want to punish that obnoxious Mystic Code I have just the right medicine for it.

[Trap Add and Ruby in a room for a couple hours and hopefully they'll both learn to shut the fuck up.]

[gravings]

[ Oh..........??? She turns back to Rin with interest. She doesn't intend to punish Add in any serious way, but sometimes it's helpful to put the good fear in him. ]

Medicine?

[ Add begins to babble protests about Gray being a heartless traitor. ]

[erbe]

I have an annoying one too now. It doesn't have any useful qualities like Add does, but it's just as annoying.

[She wants to break it over her knee. Why does it even exist? Just so Zelretch could prove that he could? Or maybe he hated women? Either way, it's more trouble than it's worth, and she has contemplated trying to sell it.]

[gravings]

[ An annoying one... Gray's interest piques further. Maybe Add's unruliness has just needed something even more unruly to wear it down. ]

That might be interesting. The next time Add acts up, they should meet.

[ Like daycare friends, aggravating edition. ]

It doesn't do anything special?

[erbe]

Oh, it's special. Just not useful. The last time I attempted utilizing its powers I had to rebuild my whole group of friends from scratch. It is malicious. Like making a deal with the devil.

[There seems to be some muffled noises from somewhere, but they're faint. Rin ignores it for now.]

[gravings]

... I see.

[ Gray feels a little scared for Add now. He is annoying and obnoxious, but Gray actually does still love him as much as anyone can love a talking box. ]

It sounds dangerous to keep around.

[ Especially for something that isn't useful and is instead making Rin friendless. As a friend of Rin, Gray is slightly concerned. ]

[erbe]

Mostly dangerous for one's reputation. Especially so as a mage among regular people.

[It was so, so bad. The muffled complaints get louder, like a person's voice in the distance behind a door. However Rin gives a swift kick to her leather bag and those noises stop. For now.]