lifenet | [Stones of Farspeech] A Request or Two

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[Stones of Farspeech] A Request or Two

I realize most of you are busy with the new island, but if I can, I'd like to borrow a moment of your time. This shouldn't interfere with new explorations, fortunately. It's actually rather dependent on them.

[Ignis has been very absent since Gladio was sent home last month. Even now, it's hard for him to reach out and exploring in this mindset is not the best of ideas, but he also can't allow himself to idle any longer.]

Shion and I have been discussing the creation of a list of questions we can ask each new deity we run across so we can compare answers to look for patterns and other things that may help us begin sorting out the greater mystery of this place as we learn about each island we come across. There are obvious general questions we can ask, but we wanted to see if there were any more specific ones people would like added to the list. If you have anything, can you let me know? Your help is most appreciated.

[There is a momentary pause where the only sound is Ignis softly drawing a deep breath as he steels himself for the next topic.]

For those who aren't aware, Gladio has been returned to Eos. Prompto and I are going to do our bests to keep the lighthouse workshop stocked and in good shape. We're also going to try and keep his projects on the farming islet going since they are of benefit to us all. We could use some help, though, if anyone can volunteer.

Also, if you were working on a project with him, can you let either Prompto or myself know? We don't want any of those to fall by the wayside.

[His voice gets a little softer as he finishes the communication.]

Gladio wouldn't want that either and I want to do this for him.

Thank you.

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It's not something I would wish on anyone for any length of time. I'm sorry to hear you had to experience it.

[Fortunately, Ignis isn't the type to take offense easily. He can tell genuine empathy when he hears it.]

In my own garden? There are some apricot trees, witch hazel and other herbs more suited for cooking, but for the most part it's coffee plants.

[A soft laugh comes over the crystal.]

I rather had an addiction before coming here, so Prompto got me some coffee plants not long after we arrived. I think I may finally be getting close to a decent brew.

Golly, I didn't know we had any coffee plants around! I prefer tea myself - though caffeine does not affect me as strongly as it would a human, so going without it is no trouble.

[He just likes it. The drink itself, and the ritual surrounding it. Also, he definitely meant to ask about the crops they needed help with on the farming islet, but whoops now we're talking about tea.]

I have been experimenting with making blends of that myself, using the local fruits and flowers.

Wait, you're not human? You're not a spider, are you?

[Ignis doesn't sound judgmental or upset or anything like that. Merely confused. Look, he's blind and he didn't realize for months that Muffet was a spider-lady despite working with her several times. He's rather avoid doing that to someone else. Not everyone may find it as amusing as she did.]

Tea is a great alternative to coffee, though I do prefer stronger ones to sweet ones. Have you gotten to experiment with an apricot tea yet? I would be happy to donate some fruit to you if you'd like.

[Fortunately, if they don't get back around to what grows on the farming islet, they are all staples on most worlds--corn, cotton, wheat. Things that Asgore is likely to recognize himself once he sees them.]

Oh - well, no, but I am of the same species as Muffet. Monsters have a wide range of body types. I have been told that I resemble a goat, or else a lion. Are you familiar with either of those?

[He doesn't quite think he looks much like a goat, but it sure comes up a lot.]

I have not! That does sound like it would be good - I would be happy to try it with my next harvest.

I'm afraid not. We don't have either of those animals on Eos, though I believe I recall someone saying that a lion is rather like a large cat? Tigers are like that as well.

[It helps that Leo is much like a tiger so at least he has a reference for that particular new animal.]

I actually didn't realize Muffet was a monster for an embarrassingly long time. I'm trying to do better with others now.

[Hence the questions.]

Excellent. Just let me know when you are ready for some and I will be happy to get them to you.

They are! I also have horns - I believe that is where the goat resemblance is.

[The ears, too, but describing the exact shape and floppiness of his ears doesn't seem hugely relevant to anyone.]

That would be lovely. [.....hey wait didn't this start with him offering Ignis something?] I will come by and help with your farming as well, if you like.

[Mental note: goats have horns. Not that it helps much when he doesn't know what else they have, but it's still something to add to his list of weird animal facts.]

I will have to take your word for that. Maybe when you come to visit you can tell me more about the different types of animals on your world? I will be happy to repay you for whatever assistance you give me. Perhaps with a few good meals?

[Yeah, things tend to go that way with Ignis. Someone comes to offer him help and he ends up turning it around on them. Too many years being team mum.]

Oh, no thanks is necessary. But I would be happy to tell you about my world!

[AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE MEETS AN UNMOVABLE - nah actually, Asgore is super movable and won't get in a real argument about this. Or, indeed, most other things.]

Cooking's not a hardship for me, if that is what you're worried about.

[Most people who visit the cottage are fed at some point. It's just how Ignis is.]

I apologize in advance if my questions grow annoying. I've always been a curious sort and your world sounds like quite the interesting one. Muffet told me a little about how magic works once, but she didn't get a chance to talk about much else.

Oh, not at all. I have met many humans who are interested in monster magic recently!

[He sounds enthusiastic about this. Humans in the past were so afraid of it; it's nice when they aren't.]

I've become a lot more interested in the kinds of magic there are since coming here. I had no idea the magic of my world was so different from that of others. It's a great deal more limited than on most worlds.

[And on most worlds, said magic doesn't eat away at the very life of the one who gifts it to others.]

I have thought much the same about my own world's magic. Though its functions seem to be very unusual compared to most.

[As it turns out, most people's magic isn't extremely specific to affecting bullet-hell style combat]

[Magic, man. It's definitely a thing.]

Do you mind if I ask what you can do with your magic? It was interesting that, despite being from different worlds, we found that one of the magical skills I usually have could actually increase the power of the magic Muffet used.

Can it? That is interesting.

[A monster's magic is so rooted in their soul and intent. He wonders how that works.]

I have fire magic. It can behave like regular fire, but I can also make it harmless in certain circumstances, or use it to heal. And I can create a weapon, I suppose. [he doesn't sound exactly jazzed about that one]

As I understand it, your magic is tied both to your souls and your emotions. The ability I can use when my liege is here is a healing one primarily, but it also bolsters a person's emotional state for a short time. I believe it is that part that helped increase the power of Muffet's magic.

[Unfortunately, they were only able to test a time or two and now Noctis is gone and Ignis can no longer access the ability. It's a shame. He would really like to test to see if it works with more than one person or if Muffet was just a special case.]

That ability sounds a lot like one King Regis had. He also much preferred to use his skills in ways that didn't involve fighting.

[It's a shame fate really didn't give him a choice in the matter.]

I remember being amazed as a child watching him hold fire in his hand and yet not be burned by the flames.

Ah, that would make sense! If only the Royal Scientist were here, I am sure she would be fascinated.

[It's somewhat in line with her course of study: trying to strengthen monster souls. But that is...not so important anymore.]

That - does sound quite similar, yes. [Asgore's hesitation is only due to hearing about this other king, really. That does sound somewhat alike.]

That is too bad. I'm certain she could make more of it than a mere Royal Advisor could.

['Mere', he says.]

Similar is good enough, I would say. None of us would want your magic to come from as heartless a source as ours does. I am certain now that it takes far more than it has ever given.

...oh. I'm sorry to hear that.

[That...doesn't seem like something he should follow up on...]

You are a Royal Advisor?

[It's a long story. Something that really shouldn't be dropped on someone at first meeting.]

I am, since I was six years old.

[He laughs softly.]

Granted, I was probably more of a glorified babysitter back then, but I gained a brother I would not trade for the world out of it.

[He actually means that literally too, though, once more a subject far too heavy for first meetings.]

Goodness.

[Well, Asgore's from forever ago and a royal himself, so the six years old thing doesn't strike him as necessarily all that terrible? He didn't do anything similar with his own son, but that was different. Far be it from him to comment on other peoples' practices anyway.]

That does sound nice. The practice of having Royal Advisors fell off a while ago in my own world. There is the Royal Scientist, and the Captain of the Guard, but the castle staff is very much not what it was.

[Perhaps it's because Insomnia's fall is still so fresh in his mind, but the way that Asgore finishes that cause Ignis to frown.]

The castle staff isn't as it was? Did something happen in the kingdom?

[Ignis almost says 'your' kingdom instead because it strikes him then that the way Asgore speaks of the kingdom is much like King Regis would have and that would imply he is either king or someone close to the king. Considering he has removed three possible positions from an already short list, not a whole lot is left besides 'king.']

There was a war. It was many generations ago now, but our population was not large to begin with, and it is not quite recovered.

[Although part of that is also due to the lack of space. The Underground probably couldn't have accommodated the full monster population Asgore remembers from his youth.]

There was no castle afterwards. There is now, so to speak, but that has never been my priority. [Or even anywhere on the list. Frankly, he never cared if he ever regained the kind of castle and staff he did on the Surface. How could something like that possibly matter after everything?]

War, of course.

[There's a sadness in his voice. The sound of one who knows the price of war and has paid it recently. After Insomnia's fall they talked all the time about what it would be like once they took the city back and put Noctis on the throne where he belonged...

...but not like that. What is the point in restoring Insomnia if their king isn't there to rule it?]

It's heartening to hear your kingdom is recovering, even if it is slow. War makes hope difficult to hold onto and there is hope in recovery no matter what rate it happens at.

[Ooof. That hits him poorly in a few ways, and he's glad that Ignis can't see his face for the second it takes to compose himself.

(BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE STONES NOT BECAUSE OF THE OTHER THING)]

Yes, well. I have tried to do my best. Hope is very important for monsters in particular.

Trying ones best is all we can ask of each other.

[Though, he knows royalty is so often expected to do more, if not by their people, then by themselves.]

Yes, so I have gathered. Muffet said much the same. This may be a bit presumptuous of me, but if there is ever anything I can do to help keeping hope alive, please let me know. It and sheer stubbornness have gotten me though quite a lot recently.

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journalname - 2019-04-17 00:29 (UTC) - Expand

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