[Tav laughs for what may be the first time since he's arrived and perhaps he chuckles for a beat too long, but oh it feels so good to simply laugh about his situation.]
Ah, yes. For me, it's about balance; we use nature as much as it uses us in turn. I restore plants and herbs to their healthier forms and they join me whenever I need defending.
Though, I would rather do more of the growing than the battling. Seen enough of that for one lifetime.
Oh, I know the feeling. As a doctor, I technically swore an oath to do no harm, but— the universe keeps having other ideas. ( The corner of his mouth flickers in a rueful smile, and then he continues musing over Tav’s description of those abilities. One in particular stands out: )
When you say “join” you… does that mean, like, a gigantic moving plant uprooting itself? Fighting by your side and eating your enemies?
( Strange is picturing Little Shop of Horrors. He desperately wants to reference Little Shop of Horrors. In a feat of Herculean self-control, he does not drop the pop culture reference. )
The Master of Works probably won’t be a fan, ( Strange remarks, bemused, as he moves a little closer to the statue: taking in the vine where it slithers and uncurls, and surveying the damage itself. There’s a professorial air to the way he assesses it, sizing up the magic expended. )
I usually try to save my arcane demonstrations for outside the Gallows for this reason. You don’t happen to have one of those neat bibbity boppity boo spells which can magically fix stuff, can you?
( Strange fishes distractedly around at his belt, fumbling a little — his fingers seem a little too clumsy to untie the cords — but then he eventually detaches the two pouches. Tosses them in Tav’s direction, a slow underhanded volley. )
Elfroot and Spindleweed, to start with. We’d also be able to make use of Crystal Grace, but you mentioned you’d already started on some of that.
There are other plants which would come in handy for curative potions: Arbor Blessing especially, although it’s supposed to be very difficult to grow. We just want to get the herb garden started for spring, and broaden its selection. There hasn’t really been the manpower to tend to it lately.
[Tav goes fidgets with the seeds as he tries to come up with an answer other than "I'm the son of the god of murder."]
I have a condition that can make me dangerous at night. I am required to return to my room at least two hours before the last ferry, and essentially before nightfall.
( Strange blinks. Scrutinises the elf with a steady, level expression, turning that piece of information over in his head— and perhaps it’s the word condition which ticks him over into clinician mode, more intellectual than alarmed. )
Oh, a nighttime transformation? Like a… ( Werewolf, he thinks, but for certain reasons he buries that word. Selects another option: ) Vampire or something?
Not every night. [Tav tries to reassure.] It happens in episodes.
[He sighs as he gets to work burying the Elfroot in the garden beds.] I am reduced to murderous urges. But the Captain and I are working to keep the rest of the Riftwatch safe.
( Tav’s just settled in and started sifting through the earth with his bare hands as if that was a very normal thing to say, leaving Strange standing above him, at loose ends. Did he hear that right? )
That’s good. That you’re working with Rowntree. ( Okay, no, he has to be sure: ) —Sorry, did you just say murderous urges?
[Tav starts a couple springs of Elfroot growing beneath his hands before turning back to Strange, eyebrows furrowed. For a moment he continues his work before he withdraws his hands and sits back on his feet.]
( Interesting probably isn’t the right word to fit the situation, but. He can’t help that scalpel-slice of his curiosity, of wanting to know more, to understand: )
Only at night and only the occasional night. It hasn't happened for a while. [Tav keeps his hands palm up in his lap. Not a threat. Not hurting anyone.]
( The gesture is appreciated, and helps tamp down some of that strangled alarm in the sorcerer’s demeanour. To be polite, Strange moves closer and then perches on the nearest garden bench, leaning forward. Physically lowering himself a little so it’s easier to look at Tav and not just loom over him, without having to actually hunker down in a crouch. (Have some mercy on the knees.) )
Well, good. Is there…
( There’s a pause. )
It sounds like you already have an arrangement with the Captain, but I’m the Head Healer, as mentioned. Is there anything you need in this regard? Medically?
I don't know what would or wouldn't help without... [Experimenting on him. More frequent episodes to experiment on him. He hangs his head before shaking it.]
Not to put too fine a point on it, but, ( he says slowly, trying to keep his voice delicate, because the fellow with the murderous urges also looks so desperately hangdog, like a kicked puppy, ) perhaps arranging a way to tranquilise you in an emergency? There’s some magic in the entropy school which can send someone to sleep immediately. Even if they’re… hostile.
( Without being able to shoot the guy with tranquilizer, perhaps someone else’s magic would have to do. )
There is? [Tav brightens up immediately, turning toward Strange.] Such a thing would be infinitely valuable if I'm ever too far from the Gallows when an episode starts.
( He’d been girding himself for some more adverse reaction: devastation at the suggestion, some woe about the mistrust, about his callous pragmatic calculations. But Tav brightens, and Strange seems to relax slightly in relief, too — moreso about having sidestepped the social fallout. He’s dreadful at bedside manner. )
I can’t cast it myself, since my own sorcery was— altered, on arriving here, but I’ll speak to the Captain. Find out who has the capability here, or if it could be imbued into a rune for anyone to summon. I’m sure we can find some further options. Contingencies.
( Strange has more questions, but from the sounds of it, presumably he’s not the first person to have interrogated Tav already. He pauses slightly, almost jumps right into that curiosity anyway, but then relents; there’ll be time in future. He tips his head towards the disturbed earth in front of the druid. )
[Oh. A bit of hope is dashed and Tav's shoulders sag ever so slightly.] I agree completely if such magic is found. A rune should be given to anyone travelling with me. Until a cure is found.
[He still has hopes that somehow Cosima will find something to try that doesn't involve hurting others. At the mention of his magic, though, Tav nods and returns to the fledging sprigs of Elfroot. He concentrates, murmurs to himself, and the sprigs begin to grow, soon enough sprouting into fully grown plants, ready to be harvested.
( A little bark of surprise. He’d been expecting… he doesn’t even know what, but he scoots even further forward to get a better look. In the end, Strange can’t resist the urge to just leave the bench; he joins Tav in the dirt, leaning in close to the plant to peer at it. It looks fully-grown. Harvestable. Not some shrunken anemic thing. Magical GMO, he thinks, with a huff of laughter.
With a sheepish twist to his expression, he turns, and delivers a patter of questions to Tav: )
Well, that’s deeply fascinating. Could you do that on crops, for food? What’s your magical stamina like before you peter out? Are there any other limitations to know of? Obviously we don’t want to run you ragged, but this’ll be incredibly useful to make the most of our limited space in the garden. Although I’m assuming we still couldn’t over-use the nutrients in the soil, presumably we’d still need to let some plots rest for a littl while… and it’s not like we have a full farm here, although there’s the thought we could upgrade it to a greenhouse if we can get a hold of enough glass…
( He keeps bouncing between topics, distracted by that tangent. Focus, doctor. )
[Tav offers a smile at Strange's surprise. It's nice to pleasantly surprise someone for once. He releases his hands from the dirt and sits back on his heels.]
Not sure about the limitation; didn't have one back home. Think I do have one here: passed out after casting Sunbeam, a rather high-level spell. Doesn't usually happen that way. Not sure if my healing or nature skills will do the same.
[Listening to the list of projects though, earns a wider smile.]
But I'd be happy to help with all of that. I can grow plants on almost any surface: vertical, horizontal, soil, peat, whathaveyou.
Oh, good, that means we can set up a plant wall in the foyer.
( Wait, to clarify: )
—That’s a joke. Vertically won’t be necessary. But the rest is fantastic. Just don’t push it too far; if your magic is anything like mine, as you’ve already noticed, it’ll have been weakened in coming here. You’ll tire more easily. It feels like slogging through deep water sometimes. Can be a pain in the ass, to be honest.
[Tav is already taking notes when Strange stops him. A plant wall would likely be very difficult and take more than a few days to build, but— oh. A joke. Tav chuckles but nods.]
That’s exactly how it feels! And some spells don’t work at all. I’ve tried Wall of Thorns and nothing’s happened.
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portalling) wrote2022-04-02 01:17 pm
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Ah, yes. For me, it's about balance; we use nature as much as it uses us in turn. I restore plants and herbs to their healthier forms and they join me whenever I need defending.
Though, I would rather do more of the growing than the battling. Seen enough of that for one lifetime.
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When you say “join” you… does that mean, like, a gigantic moving plant uprooting itself? Fighting by your side and eating your enemies?
( Strange is picturing Little Shop of Horrors. He desperately wants to reference Little Shop of Horrors. In a feat of Herculean self-control, he does not drop the pop culture reference. )
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Veco vinae! [A massive vine rips through the brick of the of courtyard and lashes the statue in question, ripping it to pieces.]
More like that.
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The Master of Works probably won’t be a fan, ( Strange remarks, bemused, as he moves a little closer to the statue: taking in the vine where it slithers and uncurls, and surveying the damage itself. There’s a professorial air to the way he assesses it, sizing up the magic expended. )
I usually try to save my arcane demonstrations for outside the Gallows for this reason. You don’t happen to have one of those neat bibbity boppity boo spells which can magically fix stuff, can you?
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[He notices the seeds and perks up.] Is that the Elfroot?
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( Strange fishes distractedly around at his belt, fumbling a little — his fingers seem a little too clumsy to untie the cords — but then he eventually detaches the two pouches. Tosses them in Tav’s direction, a slow underhanded volley. )
Elfroot and Spindleweed, to start with. We’d also be able to make use of Crystal Grace, but you mentioned you’d already started on some of that.
There are other plants which would come in handy for curative potions: Arbor Blessing especially, although it’s supposed to be very difficult to grow. We just want to get the herb garden started for spring, and broaden its selection. There hasn’t really been the manpower to tend to it lately.
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The Crystal Grace is currently around the pigeonholes, but I can work it to produce more flowers and hence more seeds.
[Listening thoughtfully,] I'd be happy to tend it. I'm not allowed to go on missions overnight anywhere.
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and entirely, utterly oblivious to what the answer actually is. Oops. )
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I have a condition that can make me dangerous at night. I am required to return to my room at least two hours before the last ferry, and essentially before nightfall.
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Oh, a nighttime transformation? Like a… ( Werewolf, he thinks, but for certain reasons he buries that word. Selects another option: ) Vampire or something?
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[He sighs as he gets to work burying the Elfroot in the garden beds.] I am reduced to murderous urges. But the Captain and I are working to keep the rest of the Riftwatch safe.
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( Tav’s just settled in and started sifting through the earth with his bare hands as if that was a very normal thing to say, leaving Strange standing above him, at loose ends. Did he hear that right? )
That’s good. That you’re working with Rowntree. ( Okay, no, he has to be sure: ) —Sorry, did you just say murderous urges?
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Yes, sir.
[He drops his gaze back down to the dirt.]
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( Interesting probably isn’t the right word to fit the situation, but. He can’t help that scalpel-slice of his curiosity, of wanting to know more, to understand: )
And it only happens at night?
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Well, good. Is there…
( There’s a pause. )
It sounds like you already have an arrangement with the Captain, but I’m the Head Healer, as mentioned. Is there anything you need in this regard? Medically?
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Without it happening more often.
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( Without being able to shoot the guy with tranquilizer, perhaps someone else’s magic would have to do. )
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I can’t cast it myself, since my own sorcery was— altered, on arriving here, but I’ll speak to the Captain. Find out who has the capability here, or if it could be imbued into a rune for anyone to summon. I’m sure we can find some further options. Contingencies.
( Strange has more questions, but from the sounds of it, presumably he’s not the first person to have interrogated Tav already. He pauses slightly, almost jumps right into that curiosity anyway, but then relents; there’ll be time in future. He tips his head towards the disturbed earth in front of the druid. )
Speaking of magic, though…?
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[He still has hopes that somehow Cosima will find something to try that doesn't involve hurting others. At the mention of his magic, though, Tav nods and returns to the fledging sprigs of Elfroot. He concentrates, murmurs to himself, and the sprigs begin to grow, soon enough sprouting into fully grown plants, ready to be harvested.
Tav throws a smile over his shoulder.]
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( A little bark of surprise. He’d been expecting… he doesn’t even know what, but he scoots even further forward to get a better look. In the end, Strange can’t resist the urge to just leave the bench; he joins Tav in the dirt, leaning in close to the plant to peer at it. It looks fully-grown. Harvestable. Not some shrunken anemic thing. Magical GMO, he thinks, with a huff of laughter.
With a sheepish twist to his expression, he turns, and delivers a patter of questions to Tav: )
Well, that’s deeply fascinating. Could you do that on crops, for food? What’s your magical stamina like before you peter out? Are there any other limitations to know of? Obviously we don’t want to run you ragged, but this’ll be incredibly useful to make the most of our limited space in the garden. Although I’m assuming we still couldn’t over-use the nutrients in the soil, presumably we’d still need to let some plots rest for a littl while… and it’s not like we have a full farm here, although there’s the thought we could upgrade it to a greenhouse if we can get a hold of enough glass…
( He keeps bouncing between topics, distracted by that tangent. Focus, doctor. )
Anyway. That’s remarkable.
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Not sure about the limitation; didn't have one back home. Think I do have one here: passed out after casting Sunbeam, a rather high-level spell. Doesn't usually happen that way. Not sure if my healing or nature skills will do the same.
[Listening to the list of projects though, earns a wider smile.]
But I'd be happy to help with all of that. I can grow plants on almost any surface: vertical, horizontal, soil, peat, whathaveyou.
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( Wait, to clarify: )
—That’s a joke. Vertically won’t be necessary. But the rest is fantastic. Just don’t push it too far; if your magic is anything like mine, as you’ve already noticed, it’ll have been weakened in coming here. You’ll tire more easily. It feels like slogging through deep water sometimes. Can be a pain in the ass, to be honest.
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That’s exactly how it feels! And some spells don’t work at all. I’ve tried Wall of Thorns and nothing’s happened.
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possibly done, or over to you to wrap this one? <3
We can wrap right here!