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+--- Thread: Blood to Wine (/showthread.php?tid=11766)
Blood to Wine - Luna - May 16 2024
Something was stirring today, Luna could feel it somewhere in her marrow. An uneasy anticipation - cause for excitement, or anxiety? That was yet to be determined, a limbo that kept her tucked behind the treeline regardless.
There was a change in the air after many long hours of warmth, the atmosphere thickening and darkening. Rain would come soon, lightning with it. For now, the clouds had blocked the ceiling from view, growling intermittently as they hung over Pegasus.
The wyrm had curled herself by a tree, idle for now. Inactivity didn’t suit her, but perhaps, rather than move to seize the moment, activity would come to her instead. The thunder boomed its agreement.
[random gen weather ended up being super dramatic pff,,]
@Bacchus
RE: Blood to Wine - Bacchus - May 16 2024
As the storm grew, Bacchus had moved towards the tree line. This place was not Eridanus, but its flora was no less lovely, for all that it was not as wild. He regarded each new plant he saw with fond curiosity. One of the plants he passed was wilted, and he stopped a moment to try and encourage its growth.
It worked in part, but the leopard did not mind. It would do the rest of its growth on its own, as was natural. Bacchus could nudge it along, but it was nature and it would grow or not at the will of nature.
He finally found the trees, only to pause at the sight of a... giant moth. A greater gembound, he was certain, having never seen any giant moths in the cave otherwise.
"Pleasant greetings," he spoke, his voice a rumble of an almost-purr... yet reminiscent of the thunder above before lightning struck. "My name is Bacchus, would you be opposed to waiting out this storm together?" he questioned, polite as ever.
For all that Bacchus could and often was sadistic, he did not tend towards rudeness. He even behaved friendly by nature, not as an act of deception. It simply was who he is.
@Luna
RE: Blood to Wine - Luna - May 16 2024
Luna watched a shape slink by, eerily silent despite its casual pace. She did not call out, not yet, knowing the sky could swallow her voice if she tried. At least, that is what she told herself. Her nerves were getting to her.
Her acknowledgement was similarly cat-like, a blink in the direction of the leopard. ”Likewise, friend!” she hummed. ”No opposition here, company has been painfully scarce as of late.”
She shuffled to the left, offering space under the tree. ”What brings you to Pegasus during such, ah, temperamental weather?”
@Bacchus
RE: Blood to Wine - Bacchus - May 16 2024
With permission granted, Bacchus prowled over to sit next to the giant moth. "I would be glad to keep you company for the duration of my stay," Bacchus informed the moth in his pleasant rumble.
He considered precisely what answer to give. It was not that Bacchus was a liar, but there were many ways to tell the truth. "My partner and I are considering creating children, and I was considering the potential of the various lessers of the cave for their stones," he paused momentarily, thinking what more there might be he could share.
And that was the true story put simply, if not fully, not defining partner as 'science partner' as Anubis would think of it as.
"May I ask what brought you here, as well?" he asked in return, polite as usual.
@Luna
RE: Blood to Wine - Luna - May 16 2024
Very polite. Very courteous. The sky growled its warning.
”Oh, nothing special. I was born here, and here I’ve stayed. No cave quite as welcoming!” Though today seemed to be an exception to the rule.
Her antennae straightened. ”Stones, yes. There are many lessers of promise here. I am no hunter, but I’ve considered the idea from time to time. I’m a collector, you see.” Then she too straightened her posture, sensing opportunity.
”May I ask what you and your partner are looking for in a stone? Any plans for your offspring in particular? I understand if not, or if the answer is not so clear. Children are a joy.” She claimed, having met very few.
@Bacchus
RE: Blood to Wine - Bacchus - May 17 2024
"This cave does have some lovely flora," Bacchus commented. "Not quite like Eridanus, but... Different is not necessarily negative," he added. Yes, this place was not quite as untamed as Eridanus, but it was no less lovely for it. "You have left before, yes? I could not imagine living in one cave forever, I admit, though it is your choice, of course, I will not judge."
"Oh, a collector?" Bacchus queried, genuinely intrigued. "Of gemstones with life?" he asked, attempting to clarify, intrigued by the very idea. That would potentially be useful, as well. As for what to look for, he paused and he thought. The moment stretched, yet it was not uncomfortable. He had genuinely not thought it over.
"I thought perhaps I would know it when I saw it," he admitted. "Yet, if you are a collector, then perhaps you would have some advice. My partner is scientifically inclined, so I think it should be something unique, I think," he considered. "I would be giving them my magic, so perhaps a form that is inclined towards appreciating plants? But I think uniqueness matters more to my partner and I, over all."
"Do you know of any creatures that might suit?" he inquired.
As for plans... well, there certainly were those. But he did not speak those. He had said enough to answer and gain help, perhaps, without inviting any nosy action.
@Luna
RE: Blood to Wine - Luna - May 17 2024
”Oh yes, I travel. How couldn’t I? The caves have so much to offer. I found a few of my gems outside of Pegasus, in fact.”
She nodded. ”I collect only the most promising of stones. Ones that have a stronger rhythm. If I were to collect everything I find strewn about the floor, then I’d never find rest.” She chirruped in amusement.
She was patient with the leopard, watching as he mulled over what to say. It was a difficult question.
She perked the mention of science. ”Hmm! As am I. A kindred spirit, perhaps? I can certainly do unique. Plants, though… you may have to specify.”
”Admittedly, I’m eager to hear of what science your partner practices. Perhaps if I knew I could better suit both of your tastes?” she couldn’t hold back her curiosity, not completely.
”And I can do more than simply show you the stones, my friend. I’ve seen them in life! Through magic, mind. But my visions are true, I assure you.” Even the ones she wanted to forget.
@Bacchus
RE: Blood to Wine - Bacchus - May 17 2024
"A stronger stone... That would suit well," Bacchus considered this prospect, his tail lazily swaying back and forth.
"Oh? You are scientifically inclined as well?" Bacchus regarded the moth with more invested curiosity. "To answer your question, mostly my partner experiments using his magic, which is primarily though not only focused on fungus." It was true, yet... Incomplete "What is your scientific interest?" he inquired, curious what the moth would say.
Perhaps he would elaborate depending on her words. Perhaps not.
He tilted his head. "I have a garden, gifted to me by my partner. A creature that has an instinctive appreciation plants, perhaps one with a less carnivorous diet, might suit, I suppose? I apologize for the lack of clarity." It would allow him to test his garden with a more herbivore inclined child, perhaps.
"Such is not my magic, but I believe you," he assured the moth. "Magic is capable of a great many things. Would you tell me of them, then?" he inquired, polite.
@Luna
RE: Blood to Wine - Luna - May 17 2024
She sensed the shift in conversation, towards a more engaging direction. Perhaps the two were not the most typical parents... Intriguing. "Fungi, such interesting creatures." She knew little of them herself.
"I'm still in the process of discovering it - though if there's an end point to that activity, I find it hard to picture. To simplify, I enjoy pondering the anatomy of us Gembound. Its why I collect stones, you see. Ask yourself, Bacchus, as I have many a time - why do we look so different from each other? The Meadow Deer have herds of individuals near indistinguishable from their fellow animal. And yet I have seen no Gembound that appears close to me. Have you?"
"And yet, if you and I decided, we could make a child that would look further from either of us, through an energy rather than flesh alone. I hope to understand these variables, and perhaps one day, control them. To give these stones the body they deserve, the body that would serve them and the caves most in life." These words seemed so grand once spoken aloud. They felt right. Luna was heading in a good direction, she knew.
To the finer details. "I have no carnivores, though is there a body of water nearby? With fish? How's the insect population? Though, I might as well go down the list and let you puzzle it out for yourself. I don't mean to patronise."
"First is a delicate crystal, cream in colour. It belonged to a sizable aquatic Gembound, possessing three heads with flat beaks, used to crush the molluscs it found in the riverbed. It lived in this cave's river, actually. It had a rich green coat, which does bring plants to mind. Though I must warn you, the energy within the stone is weaker than the others." Could the spell not take? She didn't want to risk it, considering its sentimental value. Perhaps she would keep that one a while longer.
"The second stone is smaller, a green brighter than the meadow grass. This vision was a little weaker, but this one was a lumbering beast, perhaps an insectivore. It had an incredibly vibrant coat, fearsome claws, and oddly shaped feet." While it wasn't her personal favourite, it was certainly pleasant to look at (if a little overwhelming).
"The fourth is quite promising, the largest stone I own. It was spotted, herbivorous I assume, with the grandest horns atop its head! Within one was the stone, a hue like the waters in Leo. It rested upon the mountains of Pegasus like a king."
"And the most recent find - an elegant blue crystal. This one I saw in its youth, I assume. Bird-like, but furred rather than feathered. And large, even for a hatchling. It moved with strength despite its age, and I saw it catch a fish, perhaps its first. Its beak was interesting also, serrated and sharp."
She took a deep breath, settling after her monologue - that had been quite a lot of talking, even for her. "I could show you them, but for now, do any of them sound close to what you're looking for?"
[apologies for the length . ougughhg ]
@Bacchus
RE: Blood to Wine - Bacchus - May 17 2024
”They grow from decay,” Bacchus commented idly regarding fungus. ”Life from death, one might say more poetically.”
Bacchus had never pondered such a question as the differences between gembounds. He thought, perhaps, Anubis might be interested in such a line of thought, though. But Bacchus was a selfish creature, for all his manners.
He did not want to share Anubis, not with an equal. Maybe if another had earned his obsession as well, but the moth had not, at this moment.
His expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts. ”That is a fascinating concept for study.” he honestly expressed. He was curious about what experiments one might do to further such research. It especially hit home because the idea of creating to his own specifications appealed.
While it was tempting to go with a bird-like being, to see if the effects of wings without open space would effect one, Bacchus knew which stone actually held his interest. He had no intentions of catching fish of all things for his child, let alone insects.
But a mighty creature, once king of the cave it lived in… Brought to life again as prisoner of his words? The fact that it was an herbivore assumedly factored in some, as well, yet… The mighty description of it influenced him further.
”The fourth sounds like it would create quite a promising child,” Bacchus spoke honestly, for it would be a child with great promise. But would it ever get to revel in that promise? Bacchus had not yet decided. ”Would you be willing to part with it?” he inquired, before he got his hopes up.
@Luna