mosaic_archive | Kuja's Desert Palace, for Telrim and Regulus

Telrim consults her host's memory for 'black magic' and gets a very fuzzy notion of necromancy, demons and goats meeting bloody ends. Like most 'cultural memory', more image than substance.

Knowing what stereotypes humanoids attach to all things 'dark', though, she finds herself agreeing with Regulus's reaction. Rather a hypocritical dichotomy, since they're just going to engage in the 'dark' kind of actions anyway.

She lifts a pile of plates, idly wondering what it must be like to be sentient - more importantly, intelligent - and know you were purpose-built as a weapon...

((Awesome! I'll probably poke you in the next couple of days then, before Telrim gets real ideas about running off with the family silver. XP ))

"I guess," Vivi says. "I wish it wasn't. I don't want anyone to be afraid of me. There's summoning magic, too, but there aren't very many summoners left. There's only Dagger and Eiko, and Rydia, and Mistral. Rydia's from a different world, and we don't know why Mistral's a summoner. He's one of the Waltzes."

"I'm guessing you don't mean the dance..." Regulus is finding it almost too easy to get information out of Vivi, and hopes the floppy-hatted little mage will be sticking around for a while. Vivi is an amusing little creature.

"N-no. Black Waltzes are, um..," Vivi fidgets seeming a little nervous about this topic. "They're called that because there are three of them. There were three before, too, but the older ones are... gone. They're like us, but different... and they have wings."

((Mikoto would actually like a project to reverse engineer Terran technology. XD ))

'Summoners'? Summoning what? Telrim wonders, checking how much they have left to store. Perhaps Regulus will ask - his curiousity is wonderful for her. Of course, it's old news to Mikoto, which explains why she doesn't seem to be listening. Either way, Telrim's glad to be getting some sense of these people's combat capabilities.

((...I think that would blow Telrim's mind. XD All that scheming and manipulation and then "Y-you mean you want to do that? You're... OK with it? Uh... well, OK then." :O))

"And one of these 'Black Waltzes' summons... what, exactly?"

"Well, there are the Eidolons, but Mistral likes to summon his pets, too. He's always finding new pets, but some of them are scary. He brought home a dragon last time?"

"A dragon? Really? Isn't that dangerous?"

"Maybe, but not if Mistral's with it. He can control all of his pets. He uses his bell, and then they'll do whatever he wants."

And Mikoto is still listening, as there is a slight raised eyebrow at that. She hadn't realized Mistral's Bell might be anything other than a bit of a mental crutch, a way of directing his spells. Of course, the ability to control monsters could still be something the Waltz is doing and not have anything to do with the bell... she might have to study that some day.

((XD Well, Mikoto is kind of working on the same thing with all of her research of other worlds' tech and magic. A lot of her world's history was gone even before it was destroyed, and she was only eleven then. So a lot of the tech.. she knows how to use it, and knows the basics of how it works, but if she had to remake any of it from scratch she'd be lost. Luckily Terran technology is designed to really really last. The building they're in now is at least 5,000 years old))

A brief, sharp frown crosses Telrrim's face, though it doesn't appear directed at anyone in particular. She's reminded again of the Arn and their genetically engineered abominations. How they'd controlled those remained a mystery to Yeerk science. But she's fairly sure bells weren't involved.

Her expression's smooth again as she passes Mikoto the bread.

((Reverse engineering is one thing the Yeerks are good at. XD We'll have to see what we can arrange...))

"So, it's like the Imperious Curse, some sort of mind control?" Regulus asks, his tone perhaps a bit too carefully neutral.

"I don't really know," Vivi says. "I think it just makes them tame, somehow. He doesn't even need to use it with the ones he's had for a long time, like Sealion. And it only works on animals, not people..."

Regulus, though, wonders just where it makes the distinction. He isn't even sure where he does, any more.

"Mistral would know more about it, but the Waltzes don't visit very often... and they don't get along with Mikoto. They used to turn her into a Toad..." Vivi says.

As they're running out of things to put away, Mikoto decides it's as good a time as any to say something. "If they would refrain from that, I would not object to seeing them again. That they have survived this long proves I was... incorrect about the extent of their design instabilities."

...Mind control. Wonderful. Even her people can't do that at 'range'. It's an intriguing idea, though, and not just for the question of how it might work on a Controller. Telrim's so busy considering it, only a last-second warning from Natasha saves her from dropping something.

"There are worse things to be wrong about," she says, shooting a curious (and slightly amused) look at Mikoto. A toad, eh? "And it is a good idea for Regulus to meet some of the other people from this universe, as long as he's up to it."

She looks innocent as she's saying it - what do you mean it sounds like a challenge?

Mikoto does nod at that, but adds, "I would prefer he were a little more recovered before any of the Black Waltzes should visit. They are not as docile as the Black Mages."

"Are you ok, Mr. Black?" Vivi asks... Regulus had briefly looked rather amused at the mention of toads, but the look had broken up so quickly that even Vivi is sharp enough to catch on that he might have thought of something unpleasant.

"It's nothing, Vivi. I was just reminded of... some pranksters from my school days. Though I don't think they ever transfigured anyone into a toad."

Telrim looks his way, eyebrows raised in bemusement. "That, uh, must have been some school."

He doesn't sound too happy talking about it, though. Maybe he's missing his homeworld already.

And he smiles again. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the finest school in Britain." With less of a smile he adds, "The Marauders... don't judge the whole school by their example. Most of us could get through a school year without nearly being expelled at least once, and through whole weeks at a time without detentions."

Not homesickness then. She'll have to read through all the files attached to his first chance she gets, if she wants`to avoid continuous misinterpretation.

"Ah. I know what you mean. That kind of kid. There's always a few." She grimaces, then shrugs it off and smiles slightly. "Good to know we've got one of their better graduates."

Close, but this was a somewhat older hurt. He smiles slightly at the compliment, though it reminds him of how his parents would compare them, how Sirius came to blame him as much as he blamed them... when Sirius was the one who ran around like some kind of delinquent...

"Yes, there always are. And James Potter was one of the worst," Regulus says. He still hated Potter, especially with how some of the teachers would comment that James and Sirius were as close as brothers. Sirius had replaced him with James... He notices the way his thoughts are going and shakes his head slightly. "I must be more tired than I realized."

"Um, is there anyone we should try to find, to let them know you're here?" Vivi asks.

And Regulus shakes his head at that. "No. There's no one at all."

Telrim shifts her expression to one of concern. Then she seems to shake it off and focus on the last couple of items being stored. "Well, if you're sure. You should finish eating, and then get some rest."

Regulus just nods and proceeds to pick at what remains of the food. Just because he'd survived didn't mean the plan could change. His family could never know. It was the only way they would be safe. He'd already known there was no going back... Not being dead didn't really change a thing, except that he had no idea what to do with himself now. Except get some sleep. He passes the tray back over to Vivi.

Vivi's a bit concerned at the silence as he takes the tray, but decides it means Regulus still isn't feeling well.

And Mikoto just quietly makes note of it. The files had mentioned family, but Regulus had said there was no one to contact. Either an alternate reality, or more research was needed...

"There." Telrim surveys the empty surfaces, ensuring nothing's left unstored. Remembering the playbook on the desk, she moves over to look at it. "Thanks, Vivi. That should last for a little while. Ah- Regulus, you're not allergic to anything, are you?"

"You're welcome," says Vivi, who now looks a little lost. He isn't sure if he should wander out of Kuja's private rooms into the cathedral-like halls of the rest of the Desert Palace - and isn't sure he could find a way out that way if he did, stay where he is, PINPoint to leave, or try to talk to Regulus some more. The sudden silence from the latter was worrying. The little mage just fidgets where he is, holding the tray.

"Hm? No, I'm not," Regulus says quietly, in response to the question about allergies.

"Are you ok?" asks Vivi.

And that does get a smile out of Regulus. "You keep asking that. I'm just tired, Vivi." It's a lie, but he's a Slytherin, and he knows Vivi won't suspect a thing. One of nature's Hufflepuffs, whatever else he was...

"The Waltzes are molting again, so they're in the village. I can ask if they want to come visit when you're awake again." Vivi looks to Mikoto at that, half expecting her to go back on earlier, but she just nods.

Good - no chance of accidentally poisoning the boy, then. Telrim turns, gives him a thoughtful look. She doesn't at all believe his excuse to Vivi, but it's a very human lie. the kind that most of them intend as 'polite' and a few use as defence. She and Natasha find themselves disagreeing on his likely motives.

She shifts her attention, mentally changing the subject. Be seen to focus on the practical details, and with luck Regulus, at least, will think her oblivious to the more subtle aspects of what's going on. If eager to help with what she does notice.

"Great," she says earnestly, looking to Regulus to check he likes the idea. "Though, um, we should probably find some more clothes for you before then. But we can talk about that later."

Regulus does blush very slightly at that mention again. He really isn't used to not having such basic things as clothing.

Mikoto taps the wall screen a few times and then with a wave it powers down, a flicker of red light tracing along the silver metal and out of the room. Then she goes over closer to the bed and looks at the cuff around Regulus's wrist. "If it will respond to you, this can be used to let me know should you need anything." She reaches for it, showing him where to touch to cause it to set off a chime... which can now also be heard in the next room as well.

Regulus gives it a try, puzzled by the odd device... but his mind is really too fuzzy to think of how to ask about it for now. The only difference from when Mikoto sets off the chime is that when Regulus touches the metal the light beneath its surface is green instead of red. He wonders, sleepily, if it's like House colors... but Mikoto didn't seem like a Gryffindor to him.

Mikoto just nods. "Then it should be possible to leave you some privacy to rest."

((And daft me forgot to mention the playbook's title at least. "I Want To Be Your Canary", a Gaian play from in FF9))

Telrim nods approvingly: personally she doesn't like the thought of leaving a prisoner unsupervised, but he's not supposed to be one.

She shifts toward the door, then, assuming they're to leave but subconsciously disinclined to lead the way out.

((Ahh, cool. :) ))

Mikoto just walks calmly back into the library/sitting room without so much as a look back.

Vivi takes his time, waving bye.

Mikoto goes right to an already active wall panel which now has the same display that she'd just closed in the other room. Some research could be continued while Regulus slept, though perhaps not in front of Vivi. She's unconcerned about any possible escape attempts. Especially since Regulus shouldn't know how to take that cuff off.

Telrim matches Mikoto's pace, though drifts closer to keep an eye on the Genome's research screens. She's not one for wasting time, and Telrim appreciates that, all the more since the Yeerk's cover personality doesn't let her press for progress herself. Much less frustrating to work with outsiders who'll keep the pace up by themselves.

"Well, he took that pretty calmly, considering." She leans against the nearest chair, absently patting her jacket pockets to find- no, that's the scanner - the notepad she usually keeps handy. "I suppose perhaps he's used to things being... unpredictable."

"Or accustomed to hiding his reactions," says Mikoto. "Possibly both."

Vivi seems uncertain what to do with himself now, looking from the door to the lab to the third door in this room. Peeking through it out of curiosity he sees the cathedral-like corridors of the rest of the Desert Palace.

Glancing over to him, Mikoto decides to distract him from wandering with a question. "Vivi... Has Zidane mentioned anything of where he was for the three years he was missing?"

Vivi closes the door and looks over. "Um... no, he hasn't. At least, not to me."

((BTW, some screencaps of the rest of the Desert Palace here. It really is pretty, in a way. I also found a forum with a whole pile of screencaps of the place here. With this being the room they're in now. :)))

Telrim wonders how much that's preying on Mikoto's mind. She glances at the dust lining the bookshelves. She's keeping her hands to herself for now. Her eyes are another thing. "You... haven't been here in a long time, have you? Either of you."

She's not sure who's been here before at all, but their reactions should tell her that.

((That is pretty! And handy for reference, thanks! ^_^ ))

"N-no," Vivi says. "We had to escape once." He's not sure he wants to talk about it in front of Mikoto.

"I have never been here before," Mikoto says. "I never left Terra until the day it was destroyed. Kuja told me of this place, and there were records of it remaining on Terra. This palace is a Terran structure that was dislocated onto the surface of Gaia during a failed attempt at Fusion five thousand years ago."

Then she turns from the screen and looks to Vivi. "Someone has been here since then, Vivi. Someone was here after the Iifa Tree's collapse."

((Yes, it is. I'd forgotten some details of how things looked myself. XD And Kuja's bedroom isn't shown, so I just winged it there.))

The place is unfamiliar to both of them? Telrim's heartbeat speeds up for a minute, the host body responding to the Yeerk's excitement. The possibilities!

"Is there any way to find out for sure?" she suggests, playing hesitant. As if it matters to her that she's an outsider in this. "Like security footage or something?"

Hesitant, and also a little bit primitive.

((I think it fit! XD))

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject