improvking | IC Inbox (ryslig)

[ Saint-Germain watches Kul Elna's circuit of the room. Thinks about what she knows of their summoning, the sorts of translations and inscriptions she'd aided with. Questions he'd asked, long ago. ]

But you're glad they're here.

[ THAT is not a question. Richard was once an evil god, she understands - or at least partially. Yet this conglomerate of souls, the people it encompasses, were important to him. Summoning them here was not entirely an act of selfish loneliness, but an attempt at rescuing them from a fate worse than death after death. Was it not?

If so, these people make Richard human. ]

They're my family.

[ There's more he could say, about how they're also his responsibility and how he owes them; but he settles for declaring them family and watching them with a fond eye. They circle him, shrieking, and he cackles - sounding a bit unhinged but nonetheless happy. ]

This place has regenerative properties. They're not in pain, here; the ragged edges of their souls softened somehow. I thought they could never be this whole again...

[ He holds up a hand to them, and they nyoom through it a few times before returning to their circling the room. He continues to hold his hand up for a bit after, examining it. ]

...Not long after I arrived here, both my hands were turned into just this mess of scar tissue; then... [ he shudders involuntarily, reminded of something ] ...ah, s-something happened - anyway, point is, they later healed back to just the scar I'd arrived with.

[ Indeed, they currently boast a single scar, a starburst through one hand - the one that Saint-Germain might remember having seen run through by a pocket knife during the stages-event. He muses, half to himself: ] ...Probably something to do with its importance to the body...

[ In other words, there are two entities on Ryslig for which he cares desperately. This soul conglomeration, wounded but made more whole, and..... ]

Ryou Bakura's, you mean.

[ She Knows. ]

[ He scoffs briefly, thinking she's referring to the 'family' comment - no, Ryou had taken far better care of his family... Then he catches on to what she's actually referring to. ]

Oh, the body? Mn.

[ It's never been a secret that he's in a copy of his host's body - he was admitting to it long before Ryou had even followed him to Ryslig. ]

Never had one of my own... my mortal-self's original doesn't count, that's canceled out by my divine-self's having no form at all.

[ And of course as the fusion of the two, he's only ever had the Ring and Ryou - he snorts, dryly amused.

He's not entirely sure if she's trying to get at something here... oh. The. right, the hand-scar,,
of course, tch.

His expression shifts again, guiltily, and he decides to go ahead and try some of the wine, why not - he could use it right now. So he uncorks the bottle and himself a glass... into his emptied tea cup like an utter barbarian. ]

[ The arachne in Saint-Germain - indeed, the courtier who infiltrated the French royal courts in the days of Louis XV - twitches inwardly at the gesture. The rest of Saint-Germain reminds herself that this is the sort of table manners one can expect from an evil chaos god, and lets the matter be.

....Odd, to be sharing a drink with an evil chaos god, she, the defender of humanity's right to not be oppressed by beings from above. But she believes that Richard has no intentions of crushing Ryslig beneath his immaterial thumb. After all - everything he cares for is here.

He is half god and half mortal, and learning to walk that distinction. And yet, in that position.....someone whose powers used to be of the scope needed to defeat the suffering mechanism.... ]

If you had the opportunity to regain your original form, would you take it? If so, how would you use it here?

[ Hm. Mixing wine with the remnants of tea and milk results in... an interesting flavor. He's genuinely unsure what he thinks of it.

Speaking of being unsure, he can't figure out what exactly Saint-Germain is asking. ]

Which "form"? You mean the Ring? Well, I mean I guess I'd be shit out of luck if I reverted to that, unless Ryou could be persuaded to wear me again... [ He only has to consider that briefly before he's continuing in a thoughtful way: ] ...Of course he was usually amenable, even before we worked things out for real. And I think he misses me sometimes too...

[ He gestures vaguely. ]

Meh, as long as there was some way I could still talk to people.

Why?

[ There is a significant disconnect in his mind between his former divine powers and the entire concept of a "form". Saint-Germain may need to explain further. ]

when you're back, let me know.

i have the ring, and kul elna's here too. they're worried

i'm worried too

i'm sorry you had to do that

[ Considering the fact that he has instant revival in Dyster, it takes the Ring-Spirit a surprising amount of time to answer... but it's still not very long in the grand scheme of things. ]

oh is that where it is. I was wondering, usually it reappears with me.

[ He shifts awkwardly on his side of the laptop in response to the apology. Mnn... how does he... ]

it's really not a big deal. got that thing out of me. long as we're apologizing for shit, sorry it took me so long to get back to you, had to make this salt
garland
necklace
thing
whatever, point is I was sick of getting possessed and needed to take measures before I risked leaving Dyster again. and I'd left my laptop back at the Gregory place, so.

don't worry about apologizing either. i understand you needed to protect yourself.

unfortunately i can't access dyster anymore so it's not as if i could check on you as soon as you...

well, anyway do you want me to come over? or do you have another suggestion for how I can drop them off?

[Them being the Ring just as well as Kul Elna. Ryou feels weird to be keeping the Ring-Spirit's family away from him, and the Ring isn't his anymore, no matter how he feels about it.]

more like protect everyone from me. I just kept *getting* possessed, fuck.

ah, you could? but the house is... kind of a mess, we got hit by the spirits early on so...

I guess we could meet in the yard, last I checked they hadn't bothered haunting up that area. I should be fine as long as I keep my ward on.

I'd really rather going to you, but the revival sickness is hitting me hard this time.

there's also no rush though, maybe you should keep them until we've cleared up the spirit problem... that human did say there were solutions to work on.

[ The Ring-Spirit can't pick a direction to steer the conversation in, he's wiped. ]

no.

i'm coming over. I don't care if the house is a mess, Spirit. I've been in messy houses before. besides, they're worried about you. they were worried about you when you did what you did.

[The Ring-Spirit should never have told Ryou that he didn't feel well. Now Ryou's going to go over there and try to make him feel better. What's he going to do, stop Ryou? Ha. Haha.

He doesn't have the power to do that so easily anymore.]

not that i'd want to go back to her again, but i miss the easy moving around, i'll admit. it's going to take me a little longer to get there.

[Not by much though, manticores are pretty fast.]

I meant more that the place currently reeks of blood and burnt flesh because Altair and I criticized the first spirits' technique, but fine.

[ He just doesn't have the energy to argue the point right now.

Ryou will find the Ring-Spirit waiting on the Gregory house's front porch. He's back to being a harpy again!

...He's also slumped against a decorative table, fast asleep! Wow, how long did it take Ryou to get here.

It's fine, he's got this salt-soaked length of cloth wrapped loosely around his torso, that. that will prevent more possessions right. ]

[As it so happens...Ryou did take a little while to get there. The reason for that was that he was making something for the Ring-Spirit while he was at home, and it took...well, it took almost an hour to sort out.

But when he does show up, it's with his Fog Form messenger bag...because he's in his travel form. So yeah, that's a snow leopard wearing a bag full of something that smells somewhat good, along with not only a collar, but a noisy, tinkling piece of gold.

Yep. Ryou is wearing the Ring even now. He had to, clearly, to get it here. Extra important since Kul Elna hitched a ride in there as before.

If the Ring's tines don't get the spirit's attention and rouse him, then Ryou will pad forward and gently headbutt his shoulder.]

[ As it turns out, the Ring-Spirit is... pretty deeply asleep! So Ryou will have to awaken him after all. On being awakened, it takes the Ring-Spirit another moment to figure out why there's a leopard right there, his expression startling briefly before he recognizes Ryou. He huffs a slight laugh when he does, then motions to his ears. When he speaks, his voice is a little too loud, like he's talking over something. ]

H-haa...

You'll have to speak up, I'm afraid, the curse hasn't run its course yet. I was tired and you were taking forever, so...

[ He half-shrugs easily, as if he's explained anything at all. ]

[Ryou's ears flicked back, mostly because damn, that was loud. He can't really blame the Ring-Spirit for it though, not when he's just come back from the dead. So, Ryou just focuses on the task at hand.

He sheds the bag carefully, then proceeds to shift back into a manticore. It probably looks appropriately horrifying, but hey. They're monsters and everyone's been transforming more than usual. Who actually feels anything about it anymore?]

Alright, but take it down a notch. I know you can't hear yourself just about yelling, but I can assure you that you are.

[This of course, he says rather loudly himself.]

I've brought you something.

[Into the bag he goes, pulling out a bowl covered crudely in paper and string. Thank goodness it hadn't tipped, really, because of what's inside.

He uncovers it, then slides it and a pair of chopsticks towards the Ring-Spirit. ]

It's okayu. I put some green onion in, but...I didn't want to do too much, it might defeat the purpose.

[Purpose being...okayu was supposed to be a comforting, easily digestible food. Good for when you don't feel well.]

Spirit there's something important i need to talk to you about. do you think you could visit?

i think it's better to discuss in person.

[How very vague. But this is actually embarrassing and stressful and very slightly the Ring-Spirit's fault so...]

[ The Ring-Spirit winces apologetically. He does take it down a notch, but it's still louder than necessary. ]

Can't hear myself over the screaming - and the volume seems to change every time I do this, so I'm never sure...

[ What screaming? He doesn't think to elaborate.

He smiles crookedly as Ryou reveals the bowl, demonic eyes managing to soften somehow as he reaches out to accept it. ]

You know you didn't have to.

[ Kul Elna decides to vacate the Ring at this point, lazily circling in the air above the otwo of them. This draws the Ring-Spirit's attention to the Ring, and... well, he raises an eyebrow, seeming bemused, but doesn't say anything about it. Yet. ]

[ Hm! Weird. Wonder what this is about. ]

Sure? I'll be right over.

[ Indeed, back to being a harpy once more with his increased flight-speed, the Ring-Spirit makes good time. It helps that the local spirits are no longer causing mayhem too. He arrives at Ryou and Atem's house wearing the Ring and Kul Elna in tow, as usual. Everything's slowly getting back to what passes for normal around here, just in time for something newly horrible to happen. (Like the graveyard being eaten - but that's probably not what Ryou wants to discuss in person.) ]

Of course I did. We're family, and family helps each other! Sometimes the difference between misery and recovery is something simple, so...

[...He realizes that the Ring-Spirit's staring at, well. The Ring, and suddenly he feels put on the spot, so Ryou trails off and seizes the cord of the Item, tugging it gently over his head and off of him before gently setting it on the table.]

Here...it's yours.

[Not his.

(not anymore)

Never his.]

[After that confirmation, Ryou closes his laptop and immediately heads outside, evidently to awkwardly pace in his own front yard. His tail is lashing back and forth in anxious spasms as he does so, though the colors which normally betray his mood are notably absent.

Furthermore, his hair seems more unkempt than usual, draped over his scarred right eye in a way that could almost come off as purposeful.

When the Ring-Spirit finally shows up, Ryou's so caught up in his own stress that he doesn't immediately notice. Like. Seriously, those wings make a lot of noise due to air displacement, he's really some kind of anxious to miss it.]

[ In response, the Ring-Spirit just. raises the bowl with one hand and chopsticks in the other. with a look of faux-surprise. ]

Oh, my hands are full~

[ H u h. This... almost definitely is not about the graveyard being eaten. Probably.

He touches down nearby but not too close, in case he startles Ryou, who seems to be quite preoccupied. ]

Uh, Ryou? I'm here, what's going on?

[ Kul Elna emerges from the Ring to twist in the air, silent for the moment. They can be quiet! Wow! ]

Edited (UR A SHADE OOPS) 2024-07-22 08:36 (UTC)

[He's being made fun of, isn't he?]

W-well, doesn't make it any less yours...did you want me to put it on you or something?

[Well, that didn't sound very nice, did it? Ryou sighs, a long exhale.]

...Sorry, I mean...do you want me to? Really, I could.

[There. Better tone delivery.]

[ The Ring-Spirit snickers, but with a teasing grin, not an outright mocking one. He tips his head at the floor beside him. ]

Just set it there, it can wait. Not like it's ~holy~ or anything, the ground won't hurt it.

Sit with me? I'd let you in, but it really does smell vile in there. I think we need to get more salt or something, decontaminate the place.

[He does startle Ryou when he speaks, so it was probably for the best that he kept a bit of a distance. The shade's tail flies upward in alarm, but he quickly lets it go limp to curl around his feet.]

Sorry...s-sorry, I...you got here so quickly, and I guess I wasn't prepared. I know I called you over, of course, I needed to, this is important. Important because it's...

It's another--I mean, it doesn't work or anything, but it's still...um...

[Ryou swallows hard as he faces the Ring-Spirit fully. His posture is so stiff that he could swear he's died and gone into rigor mortis. How...how is he going to do this?

It takes him too long, too many long moments, before he moves his hand up and after a bit more hesitation...pushes aside his hair.

That sure is the Millennium Eye.]

IC Inbox (ryslig)

they have an icon. bless

and this is super late, oops,,

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<WhiteWizard>

<GODKING>

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<WhiteWizard>

<GODKING> -> action

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/smashes glass. ANOTHER!! (set sometime round the 4th-6th idfk)

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