Morning, Noon, and Night [Semi-Open]

[mithrarin]

Who: Dust and Tyzias, Sophie, and YOU
What: Dust hangs with friends, and possibly becomes them
When: Saturday.
Where: The Magicademy and Anastara

Morning

Two circles, huh. And the chance to change, for a while, into something else.

Today, Dust didn't need to be dragged into this experience, or cajoled or even just leaned on; he was out here willingly and in the full spirit of the adventure. After all, how many other people had he met here? Humans, ducks, trolls -- all of them very different from Warmbloods in body, but similar in spirit. How could he not be a little curious? How could he not feel that trying something like this out was good, even necessary, when his very existence had been driven from the start by a genocidal war between two different people?

And then again... Dust had never been anything but himself, as he was now. He hadn't even had the experience of growing up, and barely even aging. The idea of experiencing something beyond his own form and its nature and limits had a hold on him all the deeper for that, though he didn't consciously realize the fact.

So Dust waited by the two magic circles, looking about with an eagerness he tried to disguise. Someone would help him, he had no doubt.

Noon (for Sophie)

No classes meant that Saturday was an excellent day for training -- especially Sophie, whose eagerness seemed to know no bounds and who he suspected might try to keep him as long as she could. Which he could approve of except that if she wanted to learn how to use magic with swords, she needed to know how to use magic period, so not interrupting her classes made for better teaching.

So Dust waited in one of his usual training spots, out on the grass well away from any major paths or potential trouble to or from others, with his blades in hand.

Night (for Tyzias)

To Dust's immense amazement, he'd succeeded. Tyzias had agreed to go out for drinks with him.

The idea that he'd completely failed to communicate the spirit he meant the request in had yet to even occur to him.

So the cold night found them walking into town, with a bright sigil casting warmth over them both thanks to Dust's growing skill in Discovery. "I'm guessing you tend towards... harder stuff."

Comments

[tiredcharmer]

It was time for Tyzias to snap out of her funk. Which meant no more jeans that are more hole than fabric and shirts that haven't been washed for weeks. No, no, no. It was time to get fancy, change into the right mindset for recovery.

Unfortunately, that means Tyzias is showing up in an extremely snazzy suit, which just further adds to the impression that Dust is getting.

"Yeah. I'm in the mood to get blasted out of my mind tonight. I've never gotten, like, megadrunk, so it should be an experience. And I brought this," she swirls a small vial full of something, "to help with that."

[mithrarin]

Didn't help that Dust thought she looked very, very good in that suit. But he kept that opinion to himself, well aware he'd probably say it stupidly and irritate her rather than actually compliment her.

"Me neither. Maybe I should avoid it in case you need some support walking back. That's something crazy-strong, right?"

[tiredcharmer]

"Heh, thanks. That'll be much appreciated." Tyzias flashes Dust a genuine smile: not sardonic or caustic like the vast majority of her other expressions, but a real, honest-to-god grin. (A very toothy grin, but a grin nonetheless.)

"You've been here longer than I have, so I'll defer to your expertise." Tyzias mock bows to Dust. Something's got her in a good mood. Hopefully it's the atmosphere.

[mithrarin]

This night was intended to get her smiling, so it was definitely off to a good start. (Who was Dust to complain about teeth?)

"We can go pretty close, then. There's a place or two in the Magic District that are there... probably for exactly our purpose."

[tiredcharmer]

"Aight. Then let's get moving."

[mithrarin]

If Dust were suave, charming, educated in etiquette, or just knew about it in the first place, he'd offer her an arm. Having no idea, instead he simply motioned the way, falling into step beside Tyzias.

Not a long trip, fortunately; one accommodating to the student (or faculty member) who wanted to get sloshed and then stagger back to school without ending up in an alley. But in this bitter cold it wasn't terribly well-trafficked; just a few faces there, most of them not even at the bar proper.

[tiredcharmer]

Tyzias breathes in the night air, heavy with the soul of city. The husky smoke of the city's nightlife, scents of food and ale and perfume drifting through the wind, the hot breath of the human race and everything else that lived on the island.

She smiles. How long has it been? Since she's said fuck it and just enjoyed the night, refusing the pull of her projects and her problems and the world's gravity?

(Tyzias knows exactly how long it's been. A sweep, exactly. That's why she's here.)

Drinking in the night, Tyzias walks alongside Dust and walks into the bar.

...

"Fffffuck yes, let's get sloshed. Or, uh. Me."

[mithrarin]

"'Sloshed' sounds so mild for what I thought you were going for." Dust held the door for her, then let it shut as he dismissed the runes that were keeping them warm. Honestly, he was more than a little proud of how he'd cast and maintained the spell -- his magic had gotten better faster more recently, thanks to resolve and practice. Kind of a bummer Tyzias didn't notice, but she had a knack for this stuff, so it probably didn't impress her at all.

[tiredcharmer]

As if on cue, Tyzias says, "You've been making pretty great strides with your magic, by the way. The fact that the rune lasted all the way here is impressive."

Then she sits down at the bar and says. "Strongest stuff you have."

"I'll get you some of our renowned-"

"No, no, no. I'm talking about stuff that would melt a human's internal organs."

"Are you-"

"Yes, I am."

"We're not liable-"

"Of course."

"...very well. BRING OUT THE GIANTKILLER!"

A few confused shouts later, and there's the sound of something very heavy being wheeled into the bar. Oh dear.

[mithrarin]

Everything about Tyzias kept proving larger than life. This was honestly going exactly as he'd expected it.

"Just a mulled cider for me," he said, figuring that would be a drink low on alcohol and heavy on warmth and taste.