Merrion Priddy (merrymage) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-02-26 21:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, merrion priddy, tlisa karth |
Who: Merrion Priddy & Tlisa Karth
What: Tlisa has a summon. Merri tries to help as best as he can.
Where: Tlisa’s room in the Tower
When: Backdated to earlier this month
Rating: G because Tlisa and Merri
Status: Complete!
When Tlisa first accepted the prize that had been bestowed upon her during the fight against the King Bomb, she had no idea what she was into. The stone was certainly pretty, and shined in an eye-catching fashion, but there was something otherworldly about it that kept calling to her. Loathe to leave it in her room, she eventually wrapped it in a cloth and kept it in the change purse she carried with her everywhere. She wasn’t sure when the voice started, but she knew it was somehow related to the stone. It was easy enough to ignore when she was studying, but harder when she was alone. That’s when she knew she needed to ask for help. Merri was due any moment, and while she waited Tlisa had the stone out on her table and was walking around it wringing her fingers together. It obviously wanted something from her, but what? It was not the first time Merri had heard of such a phenomenon that Tlisa had described over the network; no, he recalled Ari asking for books on mythical creatures and the realization he’d had, months later, that she had been asking about the same sort of creature as Leviathan and, later, Asura. More than that, he was unsure of what to expect or how to help; he knew that there were voices, and he knew that these creatures could be summoned to be, as best as Merri could tell, allies rather than foes, but it was not a matter that neither Ari nor Liyal nor Flynn had confided in intimate detail. But to think that the King Bomb was one of those creatures, and that poor Tlisa had him -- it worried Merri the instant he had read the message from her, and he rushed to the library to check out the books he’d helped Ari find those many months ago. He didn’t know what use they would be here and now, but at least he wouldn’t come empty-handed. A few minutes later, he stood in front of Tlisa’s door, shifting the books in his arms to knock. “Tlisa?” he called. “It’s me, Merri.” It seemed the minutes slowed down as Tlisa waited on Merri to arrive, her gaze focused on the stone. She kept reaching out to pick it up before drawing her hand back as though it had been burned before making contact. She couldn’t risk something happening before Merri got there, since she wasn’t sure she could control whatever force seemed to be inhabiting the stone. And that was the only explanation that she could think of -- that the stone had something living in it. She’d come across summoning stones in her reading but had never thought she would encounter one. Especially not randomly. Merri would be able to help her, Tlisa just knew it. That, and he was so approachable, not that some of the others weren’t, but he had specifically told her to contact him if she needed any assistance so she assumed he meant it. When she heard his knock it jolted her out of her reverie, making her jump slightly before rushing over to let him in. “Merri, yes, thank you for coming,” she said, the words coming in a rush as she opened the door to him. “I apologize for bothering you, but… Oh! My manners, would you like a drink or anything?” He gave her a small, gentle smile as he shook his head. “No, that’s not necessary, but thank you.” At her invitation, he stepped inside, his eyes immediately falling to the stone on the table. His smile fell into a concerned frown; he hadn’t seen one of these for himself, but he had read and heard about them, and knowing that Tlisa was in possession of one worried him deeply. Merri set the books on the table beside the stone and turned to Tlisa, brows knitted together. “Are you okay?” he asked. She felt a small measure of tension fade from her shoulders at Merri’s smile. “No, no, thank you. I-I wasn’t sure who else could help, and you were the first person I thought of.” She watched him, wringing her fingers together once again as she waited to hear what he might have to say about the stone and what it could be. If he agreed that it was a summoning stone then she knew she had a long road ahead of her and would want any advice Merri could offer. Tlisa glanced down at the books before responding to Merri, noticing the concern in his face. “Oh, yes. I mean, other than a bit confused.” She paused. “This… it’s a summoning stone, isn’t it? And if so, why did it choose me?” Instead of him, or Siri, the more combative mages there. Summoning stones -- and the creatures that accompanied them -- were not Merri’s area of expertise. Those he knew who possess, or might even know of, those creatures did not confide hardly any knowledge on the stone. And yet, he knew that this had to be one, and he knew that Tlisa must know herself, at least to some degree, and certainly better than he. And if she asked, then surely, it must be so. “I… think so,” he murmured. As to her second question -- why the King Bomb would have chosen her -- he had no answer. Why did Leviathan choose Liyal, and Asura choose Flynn? The logic of such beings was lost to him. It had been an enemy, intent on destruction and had, perhaps, even killed (and he shuddered at the thought); that he deemed Tlisa “worthy” would hardly seem a compliment, and any other reasoning would be equally disconcerting. Merri shook his head. “I wish I knew,” he answered sincerely. His fingers ghosted over the stone, but he did not touch it. He was afraid to, in truth. “You said that it’s talking to you? What has it said?” Unaware of how much -- or how little -- Merri might know about summoning stones, Tlisa mainly contacted him because she felt comfortable with him. They’d fought alongside one another, which bonded them in a weird way, and he was certainly far nicer to her than Siri was. Then again, she got the impress that Siri thought of her as incompetent, which didn’t help her own view of herself in the slightest. “That’s what I thought,” she responded. Nibbling on her lower lip for a moment -- her hesitance palpable -- she glanced down at the stone before continuing. “I wish you did too, I mean I can’t think of anything I did to make myself stand out, and both you and Siri did damage while I just managed to slow him down somewhat.” She was a nuisance while both Siri and Merri were effective fighters, a fact which was driving her to learn more for the next time she’s caught in that type of situation. “It’s been trying to convince me to hold it, and to use it, except…” She didn’t want to reveal that she didn’t know how. “If it truly is the King Bomb then I know what it’s capable of and I don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone.” “Slowing it--” -- him? -- “--down really saved us. If it--he hadn’t been, I don’t know if we would have been able to fight as well as we were able to.” Then Merri cringed; he’d said it as an instinctive response to comfort, though Tlisa seemed more to seek answers. Even if it was the answer, and Merri had no way of knowing for sure, maybe it would not be so comforting to her, after all. But he tried anyway, and this time with a small smile. “I don’t blame you,” he reassured. “I’d be hesitant, too. But…” But what? Merri didn’t know. Again he thought of Liyal and Flynn -- and possibly Ari, too -- and if they had something so powerful and dangerous within them and could control it, somehow, perhaps… “I don’t know if the books I brought will help, but I also don’t think you can ignore it -- him forever. Has he told you of his intentions? Does he want to do more damage?” Merri tried not to think of the woman in the fog, or the man at the Tower from two months ago. Tlisa didn’t know how to respond at first. On one hand, she felt like Merri might just be patronizing her, but on the other hand she didn’t want to assume that’s what he was trying to do. He probably just wanted to make her feel better, and it sort of worked. “Well, I’m hoping if the situation ever arises again I’ll have some new spells to use next time. I’ve got books to study, and I’ve been practicing…” She glanced down at the books he brought, instinctively nodding that yes, they probably would help. “I know I can’t ignore him forever, and I’m starting to not want to. I’m just not sure how to control him if I do manage to let him out like he wants. He… hasn’t said specifically that he wants to do anymore damage, only that he wants to be free.” And Tlisa could understand that; being free was a wonderful thing. Much as she loved her siblings dearly there were times she wished they didn’t watch over her as carefully, as though they were concerned she’d get into trouble without them. Maybe, if she could use this summon, she’d prove she was stronger than they all thought. Free. The word shouldn’t have sent shivers down Merri’s spine, but it did. What did the King Bomb -- if it was that creature -- mean by that? Would it possess Tlisa entirely if she weren’t careful? And then what would happen? Would she be lost forever, captive to the King Bomb’s wishes and demands? But then, if that was the case, why did it choose Tlisa to inhabit? A last resort to survive? Merri thought it over slowly and then sighed helplessly. Flynn would be in a much better position to give Tlisa advice than he could. “I… think I know of someone who might be able to help more than me. I can ask her, if you want. She is in a similar position, and she can control her creature.” He was pretty sure. Perhaps it was indicative of the type of person Tlisa was that she didn’t read too much into a request to be free. She assumed the King Bomb simply wanted to be able to live out the remaining years of his life on his terms, and if she could help with that then who was she to say ‘no’ to such a request? The idea of potentially losing herself hadn’t occurred to her, though the idea of not being strong enough had. Tlisa listened when Merri spoke again, her eyes widening at the offer. “Oh, well if you’re sure she wouldn’t mind and could be of use, then I would appreciate that, very much.” She wasn’t aware of anyone in a similar position, but if Merri know someone that could be quite useful to her. Especially since she wasn’t certain she could control the King Bomb. “I’ll ask first, to be sure,” he reassured. “But I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be willing to help.” But then, Merri didn’t understand the nature and burden of having such creatures reside in one’s mind. And Flynn’s seemed more helpful besides. “I’m truly sorry I can’t do more.” “You have nothing to apologize for,” Tlisa murmured, smiling slightly. “You’ve given me hope that someone might be able to help me, that’s more than what I had before, so thank you.” She wouldn’t have thought to ask around, so Merri’s assistance had been more valuable than he seemed to realize. “And, if she’s not willing to help, at least now I know other people have dealt with this.” Merri returned her smile, relieved. “Then I’ll ask, and I’m glad I could do something for you. I can’t imagine…” He shook his head. “If you ever need to talk, or if you want to talk more now even, I’m always here, and I’ll let you know as soon as she gets back to me.” And if for some reason Flynn refused, he could try to approach Ari as well, though she had never really admitted to him that she was in a similar position and he was only assuming based off his assumptions from her requests for literature. |