[It’s an ancient stone temple, worn and run-down by the passage of time, corridors vast but relatively empty. It makes him feel small, much like all these old and hallowed structures often do, so it’s all the more liberating to know he can quit this place as soon as he finds the treasure nestled within. The leather sheath of his dagger lightly bumps his hip with each step, and Erik is acutely aware of its presence, not knowing what could be waiting around any given corner.
So far so good, though. No scuffling of monsters, no rival thieves or nosy adventurers threatening to get in his way — not yet, at least. According to the local rumors, this temple of the ancient past was sprawling and many-roomed (and cursed), and Erik doesn’t doubt that’ll mean trouble one way or another. Either he stumbles across it first, or it comes looking for him.
A few winding corridors later, a few dusty rooms, and he thinks he might have found it.
Trouble, that is. He hears the echoing footsteps of someone else, and just ahead, the shape of a young girl comes into view, unfamiliar to him. Well— what to do? If she’s competition, then there’s no point in sneaking about; she’s probably heard his own muffled footsteps encroaching, so he calls out—]
Lost...? What a strange question. Am I not meant to be here?
[ Is this just a strange place for a young woman to find herself? Or does he think she's not welcome? Yachiyo lowers her spear; he's human and male, which cancels him out as a Magical Girl immediately. He's not someone she needs to view as an enemy.
[Erik is definitely the furthest thing from “magical girl” you can shake a stick at.
Wry, sarcastic, with only a baseline amount of magic at his fingertips; no, Erik relies on guile and the edge of his knives to get him through life. Sticky fingers, too. If this girl is competition, he needs to know, else his score might go disappearing out from beneath his nose if he’s not quick about it.]
Not like many people spend time in old, dusty temples. Wanted to know if you’re a tourist or something, lost on the way in. I can get you to the exit if you want.
The nature of it. And what about the nature of it?
[He moves close enough to encourage actual conversation without having to raise his voice. The echo in this place is too creepy for his liking, but he doesn't let it show. Erik places his hands on his hips.]
Wouldn't have something to do with treasure, would it?
[He frowns, though. Way to paint it in a spooky light. Erik just wanted to make a few (or more) handfuls of coin; he doesn’t want to deal with the consequences of a curse or an object associated with one.
He’s had his fill of that in the past, a thought that has something twisting in his gut. He pushes it aside.]
Unlike you, you mean? No, I don't have an interest in that sort of thing. If you don't believe me, anything I find is something you're more than welcome to.
[ Yachiyo? Yachiyo is here for the inevitable fight of whatever this curse involves. ]
[ Yachiyo tilts her head, hair sliding back behind her shoulders. ]
The crown was said to be created for the wife of a king, blessed by a traveling sorceress with a gift of longevity and bliss. But it was stolen the day before it was to be presented to her, gifted to another. The blessing, however, was meant only for the queen, and those who wore it quickly succumbed to a mysterious illness that left shadows upon the skin of the afflicted. This continued until the crown was sealed away, to prevent further deaths. It's said that the curse can be removed by returning the crown to the queen, but she had since passed away centuries ago.
[Way to be a downer about everything! He clicks his tongue, running his hand through spikes of blue hair in frustration.]
You know what, never mind. I'll figure it out for myself when we get there, so just... Do you know the way? This place is big and I hear there are monsters creeping around.
Oh, my. It almost sounds as though you're suddenly and inexplicably worried for my safety. Unless you were thinking I could protect you as I guide you, instead?
[ Well. If she can tease, it's probably for the best. ]
Look, if you want to play damsel in distress, that’s fine by me. Though something tells me you wouldn’t be in here if you couldn’t fight in the first place.
[Doesn’t matter if she was teasing! Yeesh. He makes another dismissive hand motion.]
Either way, I can protect myself. [He pats the sheaths at his hip, two daggers dangling there unused.] These just aren’t for show.
[ Yachiyo closes her eyes briefly-- and then, swiftly, her arm comes up to point to the left. The beads in her headdress clink together from the movement, the rest of her otherwise still. ]
The traces of magic are stronger in that direction.
[ Yes, okay, she looks like your average 19-year-old who models for a living, but she can keep pace very easily. Certain benefits, perhaps, though it's nothing she's going to talk about. Especially when there's not the eerie creaking of something not too far up ahead, hidden for now by the shadows of ancient corridors. ]
Like I said, don’t worry about me. This isn’t my first rodeo.
[And Erik… well, he’s pretty much that you get what you see. He’s lithe, quick, scrappy in a fight. He won’t be bulldozing his way through enemies, but his daggers are nothing to scoff at.]
So what are you supposed to be? A mage seeking curses?
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finalflight2019-12-04 02:56 pm
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So far so good, though. No scuffling of monsters, no rival thieves or nosy adventurers threatening to get in his way — not yet, at least. According to the local rumors, this temple of the ancient past was sprawling and many-roomed (and cursed), and Erik doesn’t doubt that’ll mean trouble one way or another. Either he stumbles across it first, or it comes looking for him.
A few winding corridors later, a few dusty rooms, and he thinks he might have found it.
Trouble, that is. He hears the echoing footsteps of someone else, and just ahead, the shape of a young girl comes into view, unfamiliar to him. Well— what to do? If she’s competition, then there’s no point in sneaking about; she’s probably heard his own muffled footsteps encroaching, so he calls out—]
...You lost or something?
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[ Is this just a strange place for a young woman to find herself? Or does he think she's not welcome? Yachiyo lowers her spear; he's human and male, which cancels him out as a Magical Girl immediately. He's not someone she needs to view as an enemy.
Hopefully. ]
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Wry, sarcastic, with only a baseline amount of magic at his fingertips; no, Erik relies on guile and the edge of his knives to get him through life. Sticky fingers, too. If this girl is competition, he needs to know, else his score might go disappearing out from beneath his nose if he’s not quick about it.]
Not like many people spend time in old, dusty temples. Wanted to know if you’re a tourist or something, lost on the way in. I can get you to the exit if you want.
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[ More specifically, the rumors surrounding it. But she's not going into detail. ]
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[He moves close enough to encourage actual conversation without having to raise his voice. The echo in this place is too creepy for his liking, but he doesn't let it show. Erik places his hands on his hips.]
Wouldn't have something to do with treasure, would it?
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[ Well. Does that answer his question? Yachiyo also speaks softly, seemingly comfortable enough with that. ]
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[He frowns, though. Way to paint it in a spooky light. Erik just wanted to make a few (or more) handfuls of coin; he doesn’t want to deal with the consequences of a curse or an object associated with one.
He’s had his fill of that in the past, a thought that has something twisting in his gut. He pushes it aside.]
You here to find it?
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[ And if she's legit, she can't leave the damn thing alone. ]
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[Like, come on... don't give it validation by saying it out loud, he really does not want to deal with "Curse of the Thrice-Gifted Crown".
He makes a flappy-hand gesture at their surroundings, his hand still on his hip.]
That just sounds like you're looking for trouble. You mean you're not hoping to come away from all this with your pockets fuller than before?
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[ Yachiyo? Yachiyo is here for the inevitable fight of whatever this curse involves. ]
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Yeah, that's right. Unlike me. But if you don't have a problem with it, neither do I.
[He forces a shrug into his shoulders.]
But, uh-- what kind of curse are we talking about here, anyway?
[You know. Asking for a friend.]
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[ Or. Would your friend like to know, rather-- ]
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[His tone dips serious for a moment.]
Want to know what I’m getting into. Better than going in blind, yeah?
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[ Yachiyo tilts her head, hair sliding back behind her shoulders. ]
The crown was said to be created for the wife of a king, blessed by a traveling sorceress with a gift of longevity and bliss. But it was stolen the day before it was to be presented to her, gifted to another. The blessing, however, was meant only for the queen, and those who wore it quickly succumbed to a mysterious illness that left shadows upon the skin of the afflicted. This continued until the crown was sealed away, to prevent further deaths. It's said that the curse can be removed by returning the crown to the queen, but she had since passed away centuries ago.
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[He tries time sound flippant, but something about his tone can’t quite achieve its.]
So basically — as long as we don’t wear it, we’re home free, right?
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[ Fair warning. ]
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Like... do we know how bad this 'bad luck' is?
[Way to be a downer about everything! He clicks his tongue, running his hand through spikes of blue hair in frustration.]
You know what, never mind. I'll figure it out for myself when we get there, so just... Do you know the way? This place is big and I hear there are monsters creeping around.
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[ Well. If she can tease, it's probably for the best. ]
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Look, if you want to play damsel in distress, that’s fine by me. Though something tells me you wouldn’t be in here if you couldn’t fight in the first place.
[Doesn’t matter if she was teasing! Yeesh. He makes another dismissive hand motion.]
Either way, I can protect myself. [He pats the sheaths at his hip, two daggers dangling there unused.] These just aren’t for show.
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[ Unlike... other individuals. Most of them, for that matter. Felicia, especially. ]
But if you're also prepared to fight, then I suppose I have no further concerns. I'll partner up with you for now.
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[So he gestures down the corridor, where another intersecting hallway presents them with a choice—]
So: left or right? Unless you got a map, I’m winging it.
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The traces of magic are stronger in that direction.
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Well, not all that unheard of. Erik gives a shrug, then steps forward. Off they go to the left, then.]
Left it is. Don’t fall too far behind.
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[ Yes, okay, she looks like your average 19-year-old who models for a living, but she can keep pace very easily. Certain benefits, perhaps, though it's nothing she's going to talk about. Especially when there's not the eerie creaking of something not too far up ahead, hidden for now by the shadows of ancient corridors. ]
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[And Erik… well, he’s pretty much that you get what you see. He’s lithe, quick, scrappy in a fight. He won’t be bulldozing his way through enemies, but his daggers are nothing to scoff at.]
So what are you supposed to be? A mage seeking curses?
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