hauntedking | [KENOS] IC Inbox

[ Matt wishes he had some nicer things to make charms with. Jewelry or something. He'd seen some pieces while he was out shopping, but all his Bearer stipend had gone towards the orphan project.

The good news is he has plenty of leftover herbs and other materials. About an hour later, he comes psychically knocking again: ]

Okay! Package is ready. Where should I deliver it?

I've a house in the city.

[ And with that comes a set of directions - or an address, depending. ]

[ The directions are a little easier than just the address. Matt knows the Akadimaïkós District best, and even that he doesn't know well. He hadn't spent that much time in Springstar before the attack--and now, he supposes his opportunities to get to know the city will only get rarer.

Matt gets what he believes is the right street eventually. Invisibly, with quiet footfalls, he heads towards the house. ]

I'm here, I think.

[ Matt tries to send a mental image of the front of it. It's a bit ... painterly, perhaps? A little impressionistic. But it's got all the right shapes and landmarks. ]

[ It's a small house with a garden out front. Cozy looking. Dimitri responds to the mental ping with a flicker of acknowledgement and then the door opens. Dimitri looks tired; he hasn't slept much in the last few days. But he's on his feet and that's the important part, isn't it? ]

Matt.

[ As the door opens, Matt's already untying the ribbon around his neck that holds his invisibility charm in place. He blinks into view: also tired, though more like somebody who's just come from a workout than someone who's missing sleep. (Though he also has been missing sleep.) ]

Dimitri. Hey. [ He moves towards the door, gaze passing over the little garden with an herbalist's appreciative eye. ] This is really nice.

[ He starts to rustle around in his rucksack, which is now hanging much emptier than it was when he first arrived in Springstar. ]

[ That's handy. Dimitri blinks as he flickers back into visibility and he offers a little shrug as Matt approaches. ]

...I find gardening relaxing. I like being able to give something life.

[ He inclines his head. ]

Do you want to come in?

I love gardening, [ Matt enthuses, ] or--at least I love working with plants. Back home I was mostly stuck with what I could grow on my windowsill.

[ He nods for the invitation, though he doesn't want to bring the mood down by observing it's probably safer to do so. Now that he's actually here on Dimitri's doorstep, looking him in the eye, conflict and war feel impossible.

Anyway, Matt proceeds inside, still fishing around in his rucksack. ]

I might need to invest in something with interior pockets ...

Edited 2024-03-04 03:28 (UTC)

[ Dimitri nods and ushers him inside, shutting the door behind him. In here, it's a cozy little place. He gestures for Matt to sit. ]

Would you like something to drink?

[ He's being a good host! ]

And... pockets are very useful, I've found.

Oh, that'd be really nice, [ Matt says, sinking into the indicated seat. He's more tired than he thought he'd be, but in his defense, Dimitri's charm is the last in a pretty marathon spellcasting session. ] Maybe just some water?

I didn't need that many pockets when I first landed here, [ Matt protests, arm vanishing to nearly the shoulder as he digs around. ] All I had was notebooks and the clothes on my back. Now, though ... ha.

[ He emerges with a little cloth sachet clutched triumphantly in hand. It smells gently of herbs. ]

Water is easy enough.

[ And he's back in a moment with a cup of water for him. He sets it down and then pauses as he regards the little sachet curiously. ]

What does it actually do?

[ Matt accepts the water with a soft thanks and drinks with gratitude. He glances between Dimitri and the sachet, pondering how best to describe it. ]

So ... if you sleep with it under your pillow, it's designed to induce relaxation and peaceful thoughts. Tension in your body and like, running thoughts in your brain are big things standing in the way of getting good sleep, so that's where it's focused. [ Matt sets the water glass, already half drained, down for a moment so he can open the sachet and pull out a small strip of cloth inked with sigils and symbols. ] Importantly, though, it's also designed to pursue balance. I've made the mistake before of knocking myself out for like a week-- [ Ruefully amused. ] --so you benefit from my trial and error here. It's not gonna knock you out for 12 hours at a stretch, and, there's a protection symbol right here.

[ Matt taps at one of the inked symbols, which resembles an eye. ]

So if there's something threatening around, and you need to be alert, the charm's supposed to release.

I think I understand.

[ It's magic. He can grasp that. A bit like a protective charm for his rest, if not in battle. ]

And very useful. Thank you for offering it - and following through.

[ He smiles a touch wryly. ]

Last time I received something enchanted from a member of Zenith, it ended up being a device to spy on me. But I don't think you're the sort to do that.

Oh, Jesus Christ, [ Matt protests. He hadn't even thought about that. He'd thought of other malign uses of enchantments one might reasonably be suspicious of--something that would hurt Dimitri, or the magical equivalent of a sugar pill--but not spying, somehow. ] Well--no, no, I don't wanna do anything like that.

[ Just what a liar would say!

Matt regards Dimitri with a rueful smile. ]

That's so awful. I'm sorry they did that to you. [ A beat. ] Who was it, out of curiosity?

[ And so Matt can try to never tell that person he's giving out charms to Meris. ]

I'd hope not. Or I really would be a fool to let it happen again.

[ He shrugs a touch sheepishly. ]

I don't hold it against them. But I do remember it.

[ He purses his lips. ]

Rik Tohsaka. Although I haven't heard much from her recently...

[ Matt nods seriously. He hasn't met Rin, but now he'll keep an eye out. Not with any intent to retaliate or anything--that'd be wild, when Dimitri's saying himself he doesn't hold a grudge. But he definitely wouldn't approach her first with his doubts concerning Zenith's leadership. ]

Well ... [ He holds out the sachet for Dimitri to take. ] Have someone look it over, if you want. Someone you trust.

[ He's not sure who among Meridian has the relevant skillset. Set, maybe? And even odds he'd tear the sachet to pieces in the name of either research or mayhem. ]

I try to trust people when I first meet them, unless they give me a reason not to.

[ Dimitri takes the small sachet and turns it over in his hand. ]

You haven't given me a reason. So I trust you.

[ Matt smiles faintly. Honestly, he's not sure he trusts people as readily as Dimitri does. He can admire it, even if he can't figure out how to live it. ]

I'll do my best to keep it that way, [ he settles on. Matt takes another swig from his glass, polishing it off with a soft ah. ] Any other questions for me about the charm? I realize I forgot to mention, but it'll lose effectiveness eventually. And then if you like how it's working, I can recharge it.

I don't think anything comes to mind. And... I can find you if I need anything, can't I?

[ You know, with the whole psychic thing they've got going. ]

Definitely. Give me a ring in my brain anytime ... it's not like I can tell whether it's day or night around here.

[ Matt shoots Dimitri a rueful smile. Then, setting down his glass, he rises with effort from his seat. ]

Okay, I should be getting back. [ He stretches, rolling his neck and his shoulders. ] Not that anyone should be missing me, but Yima's replacement seems kinda strict.

[ And apparently, Zenith likes to spy! Matt should sweep his room when he gets back to Sebastian's. ]

Does she? I didn't know she had a replacement already...

[ Interesting. He'll file that way for later. ]

I wish you luck, honestly.

I think she's more of a trusted advisor, substitute ruler type? [ Matt offers. He doesn't like the decisions Yima's made, and he doesn't trust Florence a bit, but at least there doesn't seem to be any hint of a coup behind the move. ] But thanks.

[ He slings his rucksack over one shoulder and heads for the door, lifting his invisibility charm to his neck. He gives Dimitri one last smile. ]

See you later.

[ He ties the ribbon closed, vanishing instantly. A moment later, the door opens itself, and softly shuts itself again. ]

[KENOS] IC Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject