[ khun nods and walks forward, adjusting his fit which is western country themed in color. he wasn't a fan of the country colors when he got here and though they're still not to his taste, they are to his boyfriend's and that's what matters.
(that and the buff they've given him has not gone unnoticed.) ]
It's a beautiful gem, isn't it? I'd say we should devise a way to figure out who's hands it's best suited for, but if it was a game of wealth, influence, or charm we'd be here quite a while.
Fortunately, or unfortunately really, I don't think it'll come to that. I have it on good authority that the gem is cursed. You might think it's worth clamoring for even then, but the ills it's associated with are poverty, disfigurement, and soul sucking ennui. On top of standard ills too.
[ ah, well. it's a good thing he changed into this outfit rather than his usual, isn't it? he matches with the country colorwise... more or less.
the violet manifestation of his magic is gone— for now. he looks the perfect picture of just another perfectly normal and unassuming wizard, thank you, as he pipes up from behind khun. ]
Yes, haven't you heard? It's been talked about quite a lot lately, I'd be surprised if you hadn't ... Has no one thought to tell you? Really?
Well, I mean ... [ a slight ducking of his voice, as if he's concerned what should happen if he says anything too loud; ] You've heard what happened to that one family, haven't you? It's pretty suspicious timing, find you think?
[ these things are not related but imagine rumours (fake or otherwise) being 100% accurate. somehow this is so far working, some of the assembled witches and wizards adopting considering, contemplative expressions they hadn't worn prior (15). ]
It's awful really, but I don't expect you to take my word for it.
[ there's a few holdouts as there tends to be with any crowd (6), but before they can start to rally the rest of the crowd back up again, khun makes a show of adjusting his ponytail to hide him casting a quick illusion spell to cause the unbelieving's hair to start growing at a magically altered, rapid pace.
mildly alarming but more importantly it'll ruin their coiffed hairstyles, frizzy and unruly. khun clicks his tongue with a frown. ]
[ part of robin honestly wonders how this is working. can't the native wizards sense the magic in the air? are they too addled by their thoughts of first claiming the gem, and now what the gem could do to them?
but there they are, some of the fops distressed by how their hair no longer parts perfectly. "how exactly did you manage to come by this information? i haven't heard any of that..." asks a face in the crowd, a gentleman apparently trying to adjust his hat to cover up some of his distressed hair?
robin just beams, practically chirping: ]
Oh, a friend of a friend knows someone who works with the army!
[ sounding, for all intents and purposes, an eager chatterbug, ready and more than willing to share a choice piece of gossip,
(uggghhhhhhh) ]
One of the Generals called the Sage's Wizards to the West and everything recently— they swear they saw the man sign and send off the letter themselves! And, I mean, that's all the Sage's Wizards have been busy with lately, right? Running all over the place, sorting out all the curses popping up for the poor fools in the other countries?
[ they. are buying this, apparently, or at least are taking it into genuine consideration even if some still seem to be skeptical? help. (15) ]
[ khun nods to robin with a look of understanding. ]
General Barnett, if you're familiar. But I've even heard this from his officers themselves.. [ khun drops several names which all check out because he is on good terms with the officers club and is a regular there. ]
I actually heard that on the mission they were sent on, they found several disfigured individuals, resembling beast more than human. As this gem is quite large, prolonged exposure could do the same, or worse.
[ at this point, a sizeable portion of the group has backed up (16), not wanting to risk their vanity for a gem that while beautiful, is much like many others in their collection. ]
My specialty is containing magic, so I could seal the gem off until the army arrives.
[ by now most of them have gotten to conversing in hushed whispers—so many names!—but there's at least one wizard in the crowd who isn't so easily daunted, looking at the shifting group around him and scoffing. "well, if you all suddenly don't want it anymore, i'll gladly take it. what's a little risk of disfigurement in the face of having a rare jewel such as this for my collection? besides, if you all think yourself incapable of shielding or transformation magic, then you shouldn't even be here anyway."
the wizard shoots khun and robin a sly smile, even as some of the remaining crowd begins to murmur. for the most part they're still backed away, but this particular holdout is starting to sow some discontent with his insults... the other holdouts still don't seem to have committed to giving up on the gem, either. (8)
"my thanks, for convincing the majority of them to back down for me. you know how we wizards can be, don't you?" stubborn, passionate, always acting as their nature dictates.
robin just sighs a little, tilting his head slightly as his brow knits in faint concern. he can roll with this. (12) ]
But what's the point of a show piece like this would be if you cannot, in fact, show it off? People are hardly going to flock to see something that may permanently disfigure them... You wouldn't be able to receive guests, you would have to remain on guard in your own home indefinitely... Is that really worth it?
[ a pause, then a blink and mild frown, as if a thought just occurred to him: ]
How do we know that the curse hasn't already begun to take root, actually? How long have all of you been assembled here? I think I heard that the disfigured individuals from that mission were given to acting somewhat irrationally... It might start more subtly than anyone thinks.
[ a bit of a shuffle from the remaining crowd; not entirely convinced, but they have to take a moment to think that over as well. ]
A little disfigurement? Unfortunately the afflicted at the manor straight up ripped through their fine clothes, and found themselves completely unable to utilize their magic to transform themselves back.
[ it's not something a skilled beautician could fix, in other words.
but khun pauses here for dramatic effect, gaze falling on the stubborn holdout of the lot. one of his stubborn not as heels dug in comrades spills out that they've been here for near half an hour, squabbling. ]
If that man speaks the truth and you've been here this long, there's not much time left. How's your vision?
Ah, feel free to watch my mouth and hands—any effects you're feeling aren't magic. [ and indeed khun does hold his hands up, palms outstretch. there's no magic words, but what there is, are his two other lighthouses spinning, causing the still gathered crowd to see convincing optical illusions (14). they start off slow at first but increase in intensity for those closest to the gem.
the nice thing about his lighthouses is that some applications don't require any additional magic beyond the initial to start, because #science #technology. it's enough to make the crowd feel woozy, drunk, and not the fun kind. soon enough there's shouting and staggered escapes, leaving just the leader of the holdouts and one other woman who can't seem to figure out how her feet work. ]
hopefully this man is not a monsterfucker but it's fine surely
[ what the hell is suspendium part the eleventy second, i guess. robin maintains a quizzically concerned expression as he gazes on at the crowd, deliberately not reacting to the 'hallucinations' they're experiencing at the moment. yup. sure is just them! what dangerous effects this rock has, huh?
said leader of the holdouts is determined to be stubborn, it seems— he tries to galvanize a response, but at best manages a dizzy slurring: "who are you, anyway... just strolling in and having everyone eat up everything you say like that? that isn't a curse, i know it isn't. what do you... actually want it for?"
robin's is still the face of gentle, concerned pity as he approaches the remaining two. ]
Hm? What a pity, you're barely talking straight ... Ah, well. To answer one of your questions, you can consider me the embodiment of a kind of curse myself, I suppose.
[ he smiles, mouth hinging open as he leans in close to clasp the man and the woman's shoulders. it reveals the fangs and sharpened teeth kept hidden prior, the just too-inhuman jaw structure, corners of a mouth that stretch back further than they should. a bit of sneaky, subtle transformation while everyone was distracted by khun. he lets a bit of his nature bleed through to his eyes as well, the gold hue darkening to a bloodier red as his pupils become slitted.
but he smiles, his air amiable, intent layering itself over the next word he speaks. it is a suggestion only in phrasing, the command in it reinforced by both magic and the aura that clings to him (18, +outfit passive). ]
Sleep. Perhaps if you're lucky, you will rise thinking this to simply be a particularly lucid waking dream.
[ khun watches this, his countenance properly schooled until the two (the woman having been in the process of fleeing), fall to the floor. they'll have some nice bruises when they wake up but they'll both be fine and sleeping soundly for at least a little while (12).
he wastes no time in walking over to take the gem, pac-manning it into one of his lighthouses. he'll pop tatara out now that it's over with (on top!) and then join him as usual. ]
I guess I spoke too soon. At least my tongue hasn't gotten rusty.
no subject
[ a small spread of his arms that suggests a shrug. ]
Let the Western wizard lead the way in negotiations.
[ 'negotiations.' ]
no subject
(that and the buff they've given him has not gone unnoticed.) ]
It's a beautiful gem, isn't it? I'd say we should devise a way to figure out who's hands it's best suited for, but if it was a game of wealth, influence, or charm we'd be here quite a while.
Fortunately, or unfortunately really, I don't think it'll come to that. I have it on good authority that the gem is cursed. You might think it's worth clamoring for even then, but the ills it's associated with are poverty, disfigurement, and soul sucking ennui. On top of standard ills too.
no subject
the violet manifestation of his magic is gone— for now. he looks the perfect picture of just another perfectly normal and unassuming wizard, thank you, as he pipes up from behind khun. ]
Yes, haven't you heard? It's been talked about quite a lot lately, I'd be surprised if you hadn't ... Has no one thought to tell you? Really?
Well, I mean ... [ a slight ducking of his voice, as if he's concerned what should happen if he says anything too loud; ] You've heard what happened to that one family, haven't you? It's pretty suspicious timing, find you think?
[ these things are not related but imagine rumours (fake or otherwise) being 100% accurate. somehow this is so far working, some of the assembled witches and wizards adopting considering, contemplative expressions they hadn't worn prior (15). ]
no subject
[ there's a few holdouts as there tends to be with any crowd (6), but before they can start to rally the rest of the crowd back up again, khun makes a show of adjusting his ponytail to hide him casting a quick illusion spell to cause the unbelieving's hair to start growing at a magically altered, rapid pace.
mildly alarming but more importantly it'll ruin their coiffed hairstyles, frizzy and unruly. khun clicks his tongue with a frown. ]
See what I mean?
no subject
but there they are, some of the fops distressed by how their hair no longer parts perfectly. "how exactly did you manage to come by this information? i haven't heard any of that..." asks a face in the crowd, a gentleman apparently trying to adjust his hat to cover up some of his distressed hair?
robin just beams, practically chirping: ]
Oh, a friend of a friend knows someone who works with the army!
[ sounding, for all intents and purposes, an eager chatterbug, ready and more than willing to share a choice piece of gossip,
(uggghhhhhhh) ]
One of the Generals called the Sage's Wizards to the West and everything recently— they swear they saw the man sign and send off the letter themselves! And, I mean, that's all the Sage's Wizards have been busy with lately, right? Running all over the place, sorting out all the curses popping up for the poor fools in the other countries?
[ they. are buying this, apparently, or at least are taking it into genuine consideration even if some still seem to be skeptical? help. (15) ]
no subject
General Barnett, if you're familiar. But I've even heard this from his officers themselves.. [ khun drops several names which all check out because he is on good terms with the officers club and is a regular there. ]
I actually heard that on the mission they were sent on, they found several disfigured individuals, resembling beast more than human. As this gem is quite large, prolonged exposure could do the same, or worse.
[ at this point, a sizeable portion of the group has backed up (16), not wanting to risk their vanity for a gem that while beautiful, is much like many others in their collection. ]
My specialty is containing magic, so I could seal the gem off until the army arrives.
no subject
the wizard shoots khun and robin a sly smile, even as some of the remaining crowd begins to murmur. for the most part they're still backed away, but this particular holdout is starting to sow some discontent with his insults... the other holdouts still don't seem to have committed to giving up on the gem, either. (8)
"my thanks, for convincing the majority of them to back down for me. you know how we wizards can be, don't you?" stubborn, passionate, always acting as their nature dictates.
robin just sighs a little, tilting his head slightly as his brow knits in faint concern. he can roll with this. (12) ]
But what's the point of a show piece like this would be if you cannot, in fact, show it off? People are hardly going to flock to see something that may permanently disfigure them... You wouldn't be able to receive guests, you would have to remain on guard in your own home indefinitely... Is that really worth it?
[ a pause, then a blink and mild frown, as if a thought just occurred to him: ]
How do we know that the curse hasn't already begun to take root, actually? How long have all of you been assembled here? I think I heard that the disfigured individuals from that mission were given to acting somewhat irrationally... It might start more subtly than anyone thinks.
[ a bit of a shuffle from the remaining crowd; not entirely convinced, but they have to take a moment to think that over as well. ]
no subject
[ it's not something a skilled beautician could fix, in other words.
but khun pauses here for dramatic effect, gaze falling on the stubborn holdout of the lot. one of his stubborn not as heels dug in comrades spills out that they've been here for near half an hour, squabbling. ]
If that man speaks the truth and you've been here this long, there's not much time left. How's your vision?
Ah, feel free to watch my mouth and hands—any effects you're feeling aren't magic. [ and indeed khun does hold his hands up, palms outstretch. there's no magic words, but what there is, are his two other lighthouses spinning, causing the still gathered crowd to see convincing optical illusions (14). they start off slow at first but increase in intensity for those closest to the gem.
the nice thing about his lighthouses is that some applications don't require any additional magic beyond the initial to start, because #science #technology. it's enough to make the crowd feel woozy, drunk, and not the fun kind. soon enough there's shouting and staggered escapes, leaving just the leader of the holdouts and one other woman who can't seem to figure out how her feet work. ]
hopefully this man is not a monsterfucker but it's fine surely
said leader of the holdouts is determined to be stubborn, it seems— he tries to galvanize a response, but at best manages a dizzy slurring: "who are you, anyway... just strolling in and having everyone eat up everything you say like that? that isn't a curse, i know it isn't. what do you... actually want it for?"
robin's is still the face of gentle, concerned pity as he approaches the remaining two. ]
Hm? What a pity, you're barely talking straight ... Ah, well. To answer one of your questions, you can consider me the embodiment of a kind of curse myself, I suppose.
[ he smiles, mouth hinging open as he leans in close to clasp the man and the woman's shoulders. it reveals the fangs and sharpened teeth kept hidden prior, the just too-inhuman jaw structure, corners of a mouth that stretch back further than they should. a bit of sneaky, subtle transformation while everyone was distracted by khun. he lets a bit of his nature bleed through to his eyes as well, the gold hue darkening to a bloodier red as his pupils become slitted.
but he smiles, his air amiable, intent layering itself over the next word he speaks. it is a suggestion only in phrasing, the command in it reinforced by both magic and the aura that clings to him (18, +outfit passive). ]
Sleep. Perhaps if you're lucky, you will rise thinking this to simply be a particularly lucid waking dream.
no subject
he wastes no time in walking over to take the gem, pac-manning it into one of his lighthouses. he'll pop tatara out now that it's over with (on top!) and then join him as usual. ]
I guess I spoke too soon. At least my tongue hasn't gotten rusty.
Let's head back.
no subject
Honestly, I'm somewhat surprised that all actually worked. Vain little things, aren't they?
But yes, let's make haste.
no subject
That was incredible! I got a little scared there myself! It was like watching a movie!
[ like all of wizard world isn't some kind of movie... ]
Let's hurry. We've got other stuff to do still.