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Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread

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Blue Blue Find all posts by this user Visit this user's website ERP Hater Posts:901 Joined:Apr 2013 Character:Jet'a Vann, Blue Linkshell:Tales of Hydaelyn Server:Balmung Reputation: 131 RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread | #24 01-18-2015, 02:10 PM (This post was last modified: 01-18-2015, 02:11 PM by Blue.) ((Note: This was written by both me and Mae.)) The curtains were drawn against the afternoon light as Jet'a sat at the Orphanage's desk, his attention focused on the new inventory list he was preparing. His ears twitched occasionally as a particularly loud snippet of childish chatter and antics floated up from the playroom below, followed by either the encouraging voice of Mallow or the soft disiplines of Holly. Thank Menphina for Holly, Jet'a sent a quick prayer. The ethereal and delicate looking Lalafell was as inquisitive as her much more robust sister, but posessed a quiet maturity that made her a more than welcome addition to the meager staff that the Orphanage had. ... Elm lumber... iron... rivets... steel... He paused and frowned at the old inventory list. Walnut..? I thought we had just gotten some. How is it going so fast..? He put down the quill and sat back, holding the list in his lap as he read through it. ... Thankfully we can find most of this for sale, but I'm going to need to go and find more components for potions to sell... the antelope horn powder i-- Jet'a stopped and looked at the door. Something had thumped against it, and the sound had been repeated a moment later. He was about to go back to his work when something started to scratch at the door, followed by a muffled mewling and another thud. He looked around and then at the stairs leading to the children's playroom, considering calling Mallow if she didn't make an appearence in a moment. He wasn't fond of the orange tabby cat, and was seriously considering ignoring the little beast until a rather horrid yowl and another thud came from the door. He huffed and got up, tucking the list into a pocket before opening the door and dully staring down at the big cat. "I will not keep it open, waiting for you to make your decision." The orange tabby flicked Jet'a an impaitent look before picking up the bundle of mail it had dropped on the doorstep and sauntered into the room. It hopped onto the desk and dropped the mail, glanced around the desk, then deliberately sat on the old list before casting Jet'a another disdainful look before Jet'a shooed it away. It made a huffing noise as it hopped from desk to table, and then climbed to the top of the bookshelf. Jet'a moved to the desk and began sorting the mail; one pile for the letters addressed to the Orphanage itself, and the other for those addressed to the Gardener. He'd have to take care of the ones addressed to the Orphanage himself; the Gardener was prone to only reading the ones addressed to her, and only because they were requests for things for her to make. He was almost finished when he stopped on the second last mail: a small package, wrapped in anonymous paper. And it was addressed to his name. Jet'a frowned; that was unusual... his commissions had always and only gone through the Alchemists' Guild, that he'd visit regularly to receive them and turn in the requested orders. He had never given his address or data to anyone, due to the erratic wandering that his... “hobby” ... forced him into. And also for safety measures; he knew he was probably wanted for his crimes, and even though he had always made sure to leave no witnesses (save for the slaves that he had freed and hosted at the Orphanage... making sure to serve an amnesic potion to those that decided to leave), he couldn't tell for sure that an assailtant seeking revenge would one day try to find him. And the last place he wanted to bring his own trouble at was a building full of kids and wounded refugees. He could feel something solid inside the package. With a bit of reluctance, he opened the letter and turned it upside down to let the object slip down and fall in his right hand. It was a flat, red stone, about the size of his palm. The symbol of some kind of horse seemed to be carved within, a rather unusual and unique kind of craft. Odd too, as Jet'a couldn't figure out its purpose or use, no matter on which side he'd flip it. He felt... something weird about the stone. There seemed to be a certain aetherial concentration in it; that wouldn't have been the first time for him to see something like that. It was rather common of crystals, the very reason beastmen craved for them. The Keeper of the Moon turned his attention on the package, realizing a piece of paper was folded within. He put the stone down on the desk and leaned on the desk with his left hand while reading the fresh parchment. The ink was tracing a crisp, neat script. “Dearest friend, in the spirit of Starlight, we are distributing blessings of prosperity to all. Please accept this gemstone and think of it as a token of good fortune. Signed: Sisters of the Red Lotus”.... I don't remember ever hearing this name before. Jet'a turned the now empty package, looking for more clues that were not there. Yet they give this to me, why? He looked at the words in the letter again, frowning quietly. It could be a trap. A little girl walked inside the building from the main entrance just behind him, trotting towards the staircase leading down. She stopped however, noticing Jet'a and the object on the desk. With curiosity she skipped over to pick it up. “Oh, this is so pretty...!” She looked up at Jet'a, who was still re-reading the letter. “Is this Golden that is carved on it?” “...No, that is a horse. Golden is a unicorn.” He replied quietly. He could detect his steed's scent on the girl's hands, and a part of his mind was already guessing what she had been doing outside. A lot of the girls in the Orphanage had found a new game in threading braids on Golden's mane and tail, something that he inwardly disapproved, but he did not feel to be his place to argue against. “Oh.” The girl looked down at the stone again, before lifting it to look at it against the light of the lamp on the desk. “It's really pretty though. Did you make it?” “... No.” Jet'a's tall collar well hid the sigh he let out at seeing the child play with that stone. “Would you mind to help Miss Mallow's cat down the bookshelf? I think he is afraid to come down on his own.” The two looked in direction of the red tabby cat, who in turn lowered his head.. possibly trying to hide. The girl blinked, then put down the stone to head over to the bookshelf, climbing on the stool and stretching her arms and legs to try and reach up to the cat. “C'mon, Mr. Fuzzyboots!” The Miqo'te took that opportunity to pick up everything and head for the door on the left, ignoring the look of annoyance the cat gave to him before picking itself up and hopping down to the child. Jet'a entered the halls, walking towards the greenhouse. He paused a second before the wooden door, the scent of fresh plants reaching his nose strongly. He knocked twice, lightly on the wood, listening for any noise that may indicate the gardener's presence and awareness. There were some skittering noises before her calm, absent voice reached him with a call. “It is open.” Jet'a entered the greenhouse, glancing around slowly. “I've brought the mail.” He informed her. The red-haired woman glanced over from the planter she was tending. “Yes?” He nodded, walking over to her and handing over two parchments. “You have two new orders...” The gardener took the letters and opened one, her eyes flicking down the paper. “I see.” “...And I've got mail.” Jet'a added just that, knewing it would be enough for her to catch the oddiness of the event. “...You do not receive mail here.” She said in an absent, somewhat mechanical murmur, without glancing up from the second letter. “I know...” Jet'a trailed off, sensing something ... tugging... on his tail, as if trying to nibble at it. “...Can you tell....” He looked back, and made a guess. It was still impossible for him to tell the two small morbol seedlings apart. “...Audrey to stop trying to eat me?” Again, the gardener did not look up. “He is not food, Audrey.” The little morbol slinked off to the other side of the room, emitting small rustling sounds, as well as a throaty noise that was almost like a growl. “...Thank you.” Jet'a bowed his head slightly, then rose his hand, to show the little pile of things, the gemstone over the folded paper, over the empty package. “This is what it contained.” Finally, the gardener glanced up from her letter, then down at the one Jet'a was holding. Her usually impassive expression actually turned into a frown. “What is that?” “A luck charm of sorts, according to those who have sent it to me.” “...” “...Something is off with it, I can feel it.” The Miqo'te observed the woman with reverential attention. “The aether in it... it's acting oddly. I thought you could know more, perhaps?” The woman's piercing golden eyes pointed on him in a puzzled look, before she reached for the stone.. and stopped, pulling her hand back. “...I should not touch that.” She said in a quiet mutter. Jet'a observed her in silence. It wasn't the simple reluctance the gardener had often shown for mundane and trivial things that was keeping her from inspecting the stone, no. She was clearly interested this time, but in a way that did not promise anything good. He looked down at the red charm, concentrating on it, sensing its aether meeting his own. It was a very odd feeling, similar to when he had attuned to aetherytes, yet different. “...It's like it's using me as a focus.” He said, before slipping the piece of paper beneath the stone and opening it before the woman. “The letter doesn't mention anything about it though.” “...How does a stone use a person as a focus?” The gardener frowned again, before looking at the paper, her eyes scanning down. “...Red Lotus?” “...There are many strands of aether coming from all directions and to this stone... It flows around my own like...” Jet'a paused, trying to find a term that did not bother him. He couldn't find any. “...It's almost a caress, like it's gingerly studying me. Do you know that name?” She frowned yet again, before carefully scooting around Jet'a, as if afraid to touch him. The wizard observed her. “...You think this is some kind of cursed object?” “...I do not know.” She started pawing through the drawers of the cabinet in the far corner of the greenhouse. “It is...” She paused and frowned, obviously struggling to find words. She was agitated, and it was impacting her ability to speak. Jet'a moved a few steps closer, trying to see what she was doing. The gardener shook her head. “Yes. It is connected.” She murmured, going back to going through the drawers, irritation slowly bubbling the surface as she seemed unable to find what she was looking for. “Is there something you require?” Jet'a found himself asking, guilt starting to creep in the back of his mind. He did not like to cause distress to women, never mind the one he considered as his “leader”, or Matriarch, at best. “Rowen.” She said quickly. “...I should have rowen in here...” “You mean, a second growth of hay?” The Miqo'te glanced around, trying to figure out what she could possibly do with something like that. “No. It is a small tree that bears clusters of red berries...” Jet'a opened his mouth to further inquire, but he was interrupted as he noticed a change in the stone. He closed his eyes, focusing, to then reopen them slowly, staring at a point of the wall. “...The strands of aether...” The gardener made a noise of disgust and frustration, then pulled out a length of purplish vine from a jar before turning to look at Jet'a. “...What?” “They're coming out of the stone with new ends... and those all go in the same direction.” The wizard tilted his head slightly, concentrating on his perception. “It's like... a stream with its tributaries.. You think it could be pointing at these Red Lotus Sisters?” He looked at the gardener, and she stared back in sielnce, before muttering something under her breath, before quickly starting to weave the purple vine into a sphere, ignoring the damage the small thorns were inflicting on her hands. “...It is possible.” “Maybe I should try and see what--” The tangy, irony scent of blood struck Jet'a's nostrils, and he turned to look at her with a slightly panicked look. “...You're bleeding.” “It will stop.” “What are you doing?” The gardener shook her head, obviously feeling agitated, then held out the sphere for Jet'a to take. “... Put it in there.” He frowned, reacing to grab the sphere of vine and thorns. “...Inside?” “Yes.” She watched him gently push the flat stone between the vines until it fit, observing the result. She then wiped her hands on her pants, before moving across the room. “...Raspberry vines are not as strong as rowen branches, but.... it is the best precaution I can give at this time.” “Precaution to what?” He asked, following her gaze. “...” She stopped in front of the fountain on the north-western corner of the greenhouse. “...Things.” She then leaned over, starting to feel her way through the various water plants inside the fountain. She the straightened up and shook the water from her arms, before turning to sit on the edge. Jet'a's ears tilted backwards in slight annoyance. “I don't suppose you would be more specific than that?” Shaking her head, she frowned. “...I... cannot.” “...” The blue-haired Miqo'te looked down at the stone in the vines. “...I think I should see what's at the other end... the one that is receiving all this aether. Especially if it's something dangerous, it is probably not safe for it to have a direction to this place.” Running one hand over her face, the gardener got up and walked back over, holding a tuber in her hands. “That is... probably wise.” Jet'a looked at her and the tuber, trying to guess her intentions. The gardener did not speak, seemingly struggling to say something. She instead shook her head again and instead held up the tuber. She then very deliberately bended it, causing part of it to snap off. She did this several times, then held it out again. Although the root had been broken several times, the parts were still connected thanks to a network of thin fibers. When Jet'a only replied with a slight head-tilt, she struggled again, and finally spoke. “...Lotus... even when the root is broken... separated... the pieces stay connected.” She said slowly. “Through... fibers. Strands.” “...You are trying to say this is what is happening with this stone?” She hesitated, considering, then nodded. Again, the wizard looked down t the orb of vines, finally putting it in a pocket inside his cowl. “I'll remember that. Maybe it's not just a coincidence.” “...Be careful.” Jet'a froze, and looked up at the gardener. He felt a little disturbed to hear those words coming from her. It was the first time she seemed to express worry for someone since he had met her over five years ago. “...If there is something you know, or just feel, I'd hear it, Althaea.” He said humbly, using the name he had given her when she had been unable to provide one. The red-haired shook her head. “...I... I do not know more. I can just feel...” She gestured at the pocket where Jet'a had put the stone. “...It is foreign, and it... bothers me.” Jet'a followed her gaze, and then gave one respectful nod. “Do not be concerned.” “Lotus is... normally... not something to be wary of.” She mumbled. “A lotus is pure, but... it symbolizes life as much as it does death. ...And the red ones are for the heart.” She shook her head again, still frowning. “...Be careful.” “I will.” He slowly replied. “If I don't find anything by the time the sun rises, I'll be back.” The gardener's nod was for him her permission for him to leave the room. Jet'a grabbed the saddle and harness in the chest at the entrance of the orphanage, and turned around the corner outside to find Golden, calmly grazing on the grass next to the stabled crimson chocobo of the gardener. Jet'a took a moment to inwardly sighed when he saw the partially braided mane of his steed. He would have had to disentangle it again.. Promising himself to do it during the journey, he proceeded on saddling the dark-coated unicorn. After his ride was ready, Jet'a led Golden outside of the yard before mounting it. The stone's aether flow still pointing at a very specific direction to the north-west. Keeping his shades on against the light of the sunset, Jet'a began his ride after the mysterious stream of aether. To be an interesting, intriguing, well-written character, there needs to be something to allow the audience to relate to them. That is what the problem is with who wants their character to be "perfect". Perfect characters will never be strong, and strong characters will never be perfect, because WE (those who read, who watch, who RP) are not perfect. "What makes a strong character is how they deal with their flaws, their fears, their turmoils, their troubles that get in the way. That's what makes them relatable." -- N.C.

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Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Tiergan - 12-30-2014, 11:56 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Antain - 12-31-2014, 12:25 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by TheBlob - 12-31-2014, 01:16 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Inessa Hara - 12-31-2014, 03:50 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Dasair - 12-31-2014, 06:24 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Obsox - 01-01-2015, 03:17 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Keroascrazy - 01-01-2015, 02:25 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by T'shina - 01-01-2015, 03:56 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Adeya - 01-01-2015, 05:53 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Tiergan - 01-01-2015, 07:54 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Parvacake - 01-01-2015, 06:47 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Gegenji - 01-02-2015, 09:53 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Warren Castille - 01-02-2015, 10:19 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Lady Rivienne - 01-02-2015, 11:38 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Sounsyy - 01-02-2015, 02:01 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Adeya - 01-03-2015, 09:54 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Elros - 01-04-2015, 04:59 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Unnamed Mercenary - 01-05-2015, 01:32 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Granil Tempish - 01-11-2015, 07:47 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Adrian - 01-12-2015, 05:05 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Kage - 01-14-2015, 03:38 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Tiergan - 01-15-2015, 01:33 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Gegenji - 01-15-2015, 11:01 AM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by Blue - 01-18-2015, 02:10 PM RE: Sisters of the Red Lotus - Gemstone Thread - by KitKat - 01-21-2015, 10:55 AM

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