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| Amethyst | Amethyst had sent news to Fudou to meet her in the sparring chamber to practice before the upcoming tournament, she wanted to show how she's grown combatively. But when Fudou arrives, Ames is nowhere to be found. |
| Fudou the Mountain | She wanted him? She got him. Fudou arrives wearing what passes for garments on him. Ornate bracers of silver and blue, waist and shin guard armor and red rope belts and cloths having about his upper thighs and groin area for reasons of both practicality and modesty. The very picture of storybook strongman barbaric strength...amped up to proportions and scale that'd cow even other Lunars and Earth Dragons.
It's impressive but...there's nobody here to witness it and admire it and this is a problem. He wrinkles his nose and reaches up to remove his glasses as if such an act will help and just sort of peers around the room. "......Hello?" |
| Amethyst | It's not Amethyst who finds Fudou, instead it's a young man, with twisted scales here and there, claws, and other obvious touchings of the wyld: Clearly a wyld mutant of some variety.
Peaking around the corner, he nervously asks, "Um, sir? Are you Fudou? I'm looking for Yim Ametis and last I knew she was heading here." |
| Fudou the Mountain | The giant, even more so then usual being in his donned warform, turns slightly and looks upon the nervous mutant with an upraised eyebrow. "Hmm..yes." he rumbles while replacing his glasses with a sort of 'who else would I be?' tone to his voice.
"...I supppose I am early." He seems dismissive at first but then relents after a few heavy seconds. His stand offish behavior an act he can't maintain. "Who are you?" he finally asks though mild suspicion tugs at the back of his mind. "..This is not her home or dojo but Silk's and few are invited down here.." |
| Amethyst | "I'm sorry, let me introduce myself." The man steps out from behind the corner and gives a little bow, "I'm Ametis' new alchemist, One Perfected Elixer. Saved me from some bandits the other day." He explains. "And now I'm tending her shop. Tho she sent me a message telling me to come here and see her, not sure why. Should I not be here? I'll leave if so." He backs up sa little bit, but then stops.
"But, I must ask, is she always this evasive and mysterious?" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "She's a sorceress and an alchemist and a dragon of water. She's nearly as mercurial as a lunar which isn't surprising since she sees us so highly and wishes to emulate us and has gone through great lenghts to do so. She's like quicksilver. Evasive and direct all at the same time."
Fudou peers at this Ametis, suspicion glinting in his eyes now. "She told -you-..to come -here-.. into thd heart a manse owned by someone you do not know into a chamber only a few people have privileage to know about. She told you that..versus having you meet her in a dojo or some living room somewhere." His smile slowly creeps a little and then he rumbles, "WHat sort of bedevilment have yo ustumbled upon now..." |
| Amethyst | The man starts laughing and with a moment of focus his form shifts and changes until Amethyst herself is standing there. "I gotta work on my lying but you gotta admit that was pretty neat." She giggles.
"Did you like my new face?" She asks, spinning around, "There's some part of me that feels so free that I can do that now." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You can just shapeshift at will?"
Fudou seems as confused as he is impressed. "How? Is this some sort of wyld gift? The ability to so freely adopt forms is Luna's give to her chosen and it's not as easy as 'because we want to' at that. We have to hunt. Kill even, to obtain different forms..." Fudou draws closer and leans in curiously, "How're you doing it? Strange sorcery? Being 'free' seems uh...well..." he grins a little, "..A problem. IF it's based on your mood what happens if you feel less free?" |
| Amethyst | Amethyst giggles even harder, "You gotta see your face right now." She's savoring that confused, impressed expression.
"It's a power of the Dream-Souled. Do know that I've been one in many, many lifetimes before this one." Amethyst explains, "It just happens that I became a Dragon this. It's a fascinating experience I'll give you that, but I did so miss being able to shapeshift. Seems like it wasn't just because I was blindly trying to be like you Lunars." "But yes, I can shapeshift at will now. Can't turn into animals but I can look like just about any sorta human, including those that are heavily mutated." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "So it is some sort of ...fae...wyld..magic."
Fudou nods his head, looking less confused and more impressed now. Also less...infringed upon. "The ability to take forms is a lunar's pride.." he notes, "But that doesn't mean that others can't do the same. It's fascinating that you can as well but you'll have to work on your deception if you want to take on the forms of others you know. You almost gave yourself away instantly. I just didn't think about the sitaution utnil a moment had passed.." He leans forward, peering at her as if searching for anything else unusual about her and then muses, "You know..General Gale was terrified of your kind.. Perhaps he had a point. Isn't that interesting? A Fae General so powerful he claimed he could destroy your city on his own and yet was prompted to serve his master out of fear for what your ilk could do to him..." |
| Amethyst | "It's also fairly taxing to shift forms. I can't just do it effortlessly like Lunars who've claimed the forms of others." Amethyst continues, "It's easy to wear myself out if I try to do it too much."
And Amethyst considers, "From what I remember and what I was taught, it's because we're the real masters of the Wyld, born of what the Celestial Exalted were capable of during the height of the First Age. We can do things the Fae could only dream of, we're more real and tangible than all of them and yet we can still shape the wyld as though it was our own. We can walk on Creation's shores without slowly dying, and we can visit the depths of the wyld without fearing mutation." "Oh, and we can transform the fae themselves, I think. Which is also scary to them." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "That is what he feared. That they would transform him against his will. I don't konw why. If he wasn't an agressor against them would would they? But I suppose he was afraid of the mere possiblity and saw you all as monsters the same way I suppose we see them when they are in Creation or feeding off mortals."
The thought is a passing one and he shrugs it off before resting his hands against his waist, "Well congratulations. You've 'ascended'." |
| Amethyst | "Just imagine being a mecurial being capable of taking nearly any and all shapes, then suddenly one day being trapped in a single form and possibly having your identity rewritten entirely." Amethyst muses, "I imagine that yeah, they see us kinda like Creation-Born see them."
"And yeah I guess I have kinda ascended or something. I wonder if I'll be able to claw back any other dream-souled powers as I grow." Amethyst considers. "Either way tho, I did also invite you to a spar." Amethyst grins. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "I understand that there is a tournament of some sort being planned." Fudou continues peering at Amethyst, crouched down now to look upon her as he rubs his bearded jaw, producing a sound like granite being scratched by a brush with metal strands.
"Are you thinking of participating?" Fudou's eyes narrow slightly though he smirks somewhat impishly, "..Are you looking for fame and fortune?" |
| Amethyst | "I'm thinking of winning." Amethyst says in response, her own eyes narrowing and her ears pulling back. "And I already got one of those two." She grins, "Now I need the other."
"What about you, Fudou? You wanna show off how tough you are before a crowd of tens or hundreds of thousands?" Amethyst asks, with her own impish smirk on her face. "I bet you'd like the glory that comes with it." |
| Fudou the Mountain | Now that surprises him. Fudou's eyes widen a touch and then he stands back up..and then belts out a loud rumbling laugh. It's not a mocking one but he's so surprised that he can't help but just overflow with mirth. His massive arms spread to the side and he notes, "Amethyst..this is a tournament that will attract people from all over the region and it's in Great Forks so you know that martial arts and the supernatural are going to rear its head! Are you that confident? Fantastic!"
He points a massive finger at her, "I am interested ..but..something like this is sure to attract THe Wyld Hunt or at least those affiliated or looking to see what celestials are present. Tiziri would probably urge caution and staying out of something like this. There's a chance I could expose my anima and my story of being the exigent of The Mountain Thrower will fall apart." |
| Amethyst | "I've either won or tied just about every battle I've fought with you folks, and even when I've losted it was only by a hair." Amethyst says confidently. "Against Celestials who'll be afraid to let their anima flare and other Dragon-Blooded? I feel pretty good."
"As far as the risk... I could see that for sure." Amethyst says, "I don't doubt that Lookshy will be carefully watching the tournament. I'll have to do it in my more human form rather than this one." She says, then spending the time to pack all her mutations away, sans those she's had since arriving in Great Forks. "But hey, if you can best me or at least tie with me without flaring, I think you'll do fine in the tournament." Amethyst says. |
| Fudou the Mountain | Well that stung a little a little bit. "I've given you the wrong impression of Full Moons, it seems. Do you really think I was giving it my absolute all in here?" Fudou indicates the room, "I've had limitations, especially in here."
Still, she's not wrong when the tale of numbers is taken into account. Circumstances aside he can't argue against the facts. "But alright, fine.Since you're egging me on and seem to really want me in the tournament.." He steps away from her, rolling his massive shoulders and stretching his arms out. "I'll forgo my usual weapon of choice then..." |
| Amethyst | "Maybe we should have an all out fight then sometime." Amethyst suggests, "Where you can truly cut lose and show me what you're made of." She grins devilishly.
"Hmm? What'll you use instead?" Amethyst asks, curious. It doesn't take her too much effort to summon forth the whip that she always uses. "Do you want a more mundane hammer?" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Oh that'll be unfair." Fudou grins a little bit and then lifts a massive hand up and waggles his fingers abit. "As to what i"ll use? These.."
He clenches a fist tightly, producing a sound like boulders splintering as his knuckles crack and his tendons groan and stretch, reinforced by the moonsilver summoned within. "Now then, Amethyst. Why don't you beat me again so I'll know to be afraid of facing you in the tournament.." |
| Amethyst | "Alright, whatever works for you." Amethyst says cracking her whip. She settles into her own stance and calms herself for a moment. She can't get too overconfident now, that'll just lead to her making all sorts of stupid mistakes. "Ready." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Excellent!" declares the behemoth.
Who suddenly lunges, thundering in at Amethyst with speed that defies how immense he is. In fact he looks even bigger, gigantic body lunging in on her as an arm the size of a temple pillar rears back, fist clenchign and the air filling with the sound of his muscles bunching and flexing, knuckles cracking. "Ready!" he declares, almost as if giving Amethyst a warning as he looms in mid air..an then comes crashing down on her. His fist, reinforced like the rest of his body with Luna's gift, comes hurtling around violently with a rush of wind and a shockwave of power behind it as he seeks to slam it right into her torso, big enough to literally be like someoen punchign her with something the size of a cargo crate. |
| Amethyst | Uncharacteristic of the ever-so-confident Dragon, she freezes for a moment, watching the cargo crate swinging down on top of her. This, this is terrifying. But her trance is broken just in time, but not before the fist manages to throw her completely off balance, leaving her tumbling away. She gets back up quickly but that attack took all of the bravado out of her.
"You're too fast for a fucking mountain." She murmurs. If she's gonna turn things around she'll need to use her own speed here. Igniting her whip she bursts into action, moving like racing fire and trying to land a solid strike against the mighty mountain. |
| Fudou the Mountain | The whip lashes out, trailing elemental fire against the titans form, who lunges in like some sort of landslide with a mind of its own, lifting a massive arm to pre-empt the impact of the whip, somehow moving fast enough to do so despite both size and the fact that it's a flamin' whip cracking at him.
The blur of his movements sounds a loud *BOOM* roaring through the confines of the dojo, shaking the walls from the force as the whip wraps about his forarm and he continues on unbothered while straightening back up to set his girth against the floor. "Hrrrnnnn!" he rumbles, seemingly dipping back into the more brutish, behemoth, titanic nature of his personality then the more affable one Amethyst is used to seeing..or feeling no doubt as he yanks and attempts to send her soaring at him as she holds onto her whip. His other fist comes forward, thundering in like an incoming meteor and casting her in shadow as it seeks to meet her flight head on, warping the air and shaking the ground itself as it arcs in closer and closer towards potential impact-- |
| Amethyst | There's no choice. If this strike hits her that'll be the end of this little sparring session. That attack did nothing to the behemoth that stands before her, and she's out of options. With a burst of anima Amethyst suddenly switches direction and sends her whip flying right back out Fodou, the whip lighting aflame again, the whip literally steaming as a wave of fire rolls down it. It's rare that she combines elements like this but if there was /ever/ a time, /now/ is the time. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Hrngh?" Fudou's incoming mometum is unstoppable. A pure juggernaut, but his eyes flash with fury against Amethysts open defiance and attempt to overwhelm him with a counter attack. His fist continues its arc. It's all happening in a split second. A rush of emotions happening within the blink of an eye but within it Amethyst might catch the faintest hint of a lopsided smile on the titan's face-- |
| Amethyst | Fudou /is/ very fast, but the flames of the alchemist are faster. She surges around Fudou's fist and strikes him solidly for the first time this fight, actually taking away some of the giant's momentum. She lands back on her feet. She's tired, but she's clearly not giving up. There's a determination and a desire in her eye as she goes for yet another strike! She needs to come up with some better tactics sometime. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Hrngh!"
Fudou's attack misses, sending a shockwave blasting out across the room, rocking th dojo and possibly shaking Silk's manse up above. He staggers, attempting to regain his balance and skidding slightly, sandled skidding across the ground and dragging the tonnage of his body with it. He twits and turns, garments whirling about his waist and armor straining to contain him though what little he wears is just for show and modesty anyway. Still, it keeps up with him as he looms back up and kicks off the ground to close in on Amethyst again like a shot fired from an essence turret. "You've got some tricks up your sleeves." he notes. Speaking for the first time and his voice a rumble that is soon lost in the very sound of his body moving and bringing both of his fists around at the same time for her in a double fisted haymaker strike. A nimbus of silver has flared to life around him and it burns bright as she pushes him into revealing his anima despite the intiial challenge. EIther that or he just doesn't care now and wants to make a point. |
| Amethyst | "You're surprised?" Amethyst asks. She's finally getting herself back together. She's moving faster, more confidently, more precisely. And now right before Fudou's attack connects, Amethyst's whip flares out in front of herself, a burst of flame surging down it as she tries to deflect the booming behemoth's bash. |
| Amethyst | That was a stupid idea. Amethyst was just barely getting back the advantage and trying that little stunt managed to send her backwards again. The alchemist can't catch a break today. "You gotta tire out sooner or later." Amethyst murmurs. Her anima is flaring at full strength now as she stands there.
Yet her weakened state leaves her with little options other than just relentlessly attacking. So again she comes at Fudou with the power of her whip, but this time it's weaker. She's not putting as much speed and power behind it as before. Is she also tiring out? |
| Fudou the Mountain | The bruisers ears wiggle abit. His hearing is good. Supernaturally so.
"Haven't you heard the stories luv?" he rumbles, activating a favored weapon of his when in a mood. Inneundo. "I can go for days and nghts wthout tiring..." The room lurchs, sheaking violently from his previous attack going awry. He didn't like that, no, but his game face remains unchanged and instead he allows his first big grin during all of this. "A constant unending deluge ..of strength!.. A flooding tide of power!" He's upon her again. An explosive *BOOOOM* from the suddeness of his movements as he brings a monstrous arm swinging down and then up again like an unleashed trebuchet seeking to do no less then launch her into the highest height of the immense dojo from the sheer power of its blow. "A -torrent- to fill the unfillable and burst the insatiable!" |
| Fudou the Mountain | The blow hits lke a thunder bolt, sending fire whirlwinding in all directions as the behemoth blasts into Amethyst and sends her body spinning in a wide arc and up across the dojo.
She would slam into the ceiling but there's aother *BOOOM* as the gigantic lunar is suddenly behind her, airborn with her, and she slams right into his colossal torso only to be enveloped by his arms as he draws her in crushingly. THe two hang in the air for a heartbeat from the airtime of his arc ceasing and then he descens with her, spinning back downwards only to ultimately land horrifically upon the dojo ground with a manse shaking *KABOOOOMO* and Amethyst buried somewhere under his body, flames no doubt still licking out. There's a pause and he rebounds upwards from the shockwave, riding it to pounce into a crouched position a half range away, smoke smouldering from his torso as the magic ot the dojo works overtime to keep Amethyst..well..intact. Which id does, but it doesn't mean she didn't go for a ride. |
| Amethyst | Amethyst's anima vanishes as she slams into the ground, her tattoos's rainbow colors fading to a black-blue that's indicitive of her being unconscious. After a short while, she finally sighs. But she still doesn't move. "I guess I forgot the power of a Full Moon." Amethyst murmurs, "Ow."
"Maybe we should both sit the tournament out." She says, thoroughly humbled. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You pushed me." rumbles hte lunar, sitting now on a stoney platform as Amethyst comes to. Silver essence still streams from his body but he sits calmly, arms set across his knees as he peers at her.
"Yes, I am a full moon. You -are- powerful though Amethyst. That ...that was a fight I would have assumed only capable by a immaculate monk..and barely at that. There's no doubt that you will dominate in the tournament assuming you don't run into someone like me. THat's always possible you know. Someone may come wanting searching for powerful exalted or masters of various arts." He rubs his beard as he peers at her and then adds, "But I did try to warn you.. BUt you think I should not compete eh? Hrm.." |
| Amethyst | Amethyst picks herself up off the floor, and sits looking up at Fudou. "To be fair, you weren't able to best me without flaring your anima." Amethyst explains, "If you can't keep it under wraps in a spar between the two of us here in the dojo where only pride's at stake, are you gonna be able to do that in the tournament?"
"Thanks for the compliment though. Just imagine what I could've done had I actually been trained in the immaculate styles." Amethyst muses, giggling. "I'm a hell of a Dragon-Blooded, aren't I?" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Hn. I didn't have to do it."
But he did so if she believes him or not is really the issue. "I got carried away..." Which really is...part of the point. "I wanted to end it fast and prove something to you so..maybe I did screw up yes. Maybe that means I can get caught up in the moment." He sighs and rubs the back of his head. "It's not that I'm afraid of exposing my nature as a lunar. The city welcomes us but everyone in it might not.. Do I care? I don't know... There'd be repercussions... We just fussed at Rishi about self control and now here I go..in her position..and wondering if I can manage it or not." At her giggle he looks startled and then finally laughs with some sincerity. "I land ontop of you with a killing blow and you giggle. This magic is bizarre. Yes. Yes you are." |
| Amethyst | "And I still managed to stall you for a while there despite you seemingly having me exactly where you want me." Amethyst grins.
"And listen, I am bizarre." She explains, "I'm giggly 'cause that was incredible. You're really strong Fudou. Stronger than I even imagined and I'm sure you got tricks you didn't show me today." "And, I dunno, maybe it's the thrill of fueling my attacks with essence-laden dragon magic, or maybe it's still essence fever. Gods have I really only been an Exalted for a year or two now?" Amethyst considers. "But yeah, if you go all glowy in the Arena after hassling Rishi so much, I don't think she'll ever let ya live it down." |
| Fudou the Mountain | Fudou is silent. Pondering the situation and growing serious before deciding:
"Well to be fair, luv, Rishi was..openly altering the citizens of Great Forks in accordance to a divine mission she felt she had been given which wasn't the case after all. Sure, she feels she did some good but others may disagree and there are scores of people possibly forever altered for it and possibly jealous temples eyeing what happened and the worship given to the ..identity RIshi crafted for her scheme. Bit different then me flaring in an arena during a combat demonstration.." His chin is in his hand as he speaks but he releases it and gives Amethyst a sidelong glance, "Your buttering me up again, luv. But yes you are very powerful. You 'stalled me'. Congratulations. Few can say that." |
| Amethyst | "True enough." Amethyst says. "Though at the same time we both know folks are gonna be looking for 'anathema' during this tournament. I just wish Rishi might've listened to us before this became a problem. At the same time it was that damned bath that finally stirred my essence enough to let my shapeshifting powers come from."
"I stalled you, I guess that's what I managed to do the last time we fought too isn't it?" Amethyst considers, "And it's a shame I didn't get a chance to show you my new armor-ripping thorns." "I gotta get me some better armor though. I think that's still my biggest disadvantage is that I'm still wearing this lamellar armor I got /before/ I exalted." Amethyst gestures at herself. "At the least I should see if I can get an artifact variant, maybe get slightly heavier armor too." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You're a skilled and powerful fighter, Amethyst. There's no question about it. A younger exalt would have much to fear from facing you. But you're still.."
Fudou considers his words carefully, biases and all and then simply says, "We -both- are people who have vulnerabilities..even to those not as powerful as us. Just as you wre able to hamper me, so could a savvy Dratonblood without your experience or a solar martial artist harry you. So it's important, I think, to keep perspective.." |
| Amethyst | Amethyst nods with a gleem in her eye. "Thanks Fudou, it, means a lot to hear you say that. I know I'm gonna keep trying to patch up my own vulnerabilities, to get even stronger yet."
"And," She gets a serious expression with a nervous chuckle, "To remember that I also have my limits just like anyone does, yeah. Good to know though that you'll be on our side if and when a Wyld Hunt comes for us. We got some incredible people around us too." "We should actually do something, go out and make some sorta difference in the world. Make our own mark even if it does end up attracting the wrong kind of attention. Just, hard to decide /what/ to do." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Some of us are doing things, Amethyst." notes Fudou, looking on seriously now. "I think it's important to remember that. Just our nature of being who we are causes that to happen and some of us make active efforts here i this region and around. I do. Bright Journey has her mission. I think maybe you've often been very uncertain and unsure but perhaps you should just..stop doing that and stop being directed by others passions and use your own. YOu did when you went back to Elderloch, didn't you?" |
| Amethyst | "Exalting didn't give me any real direction like it seems to have given a lot of the folks around me. Bright has her goals, Silk's about the ultimate in disguises and thieving, you have your strength, Rishi has her mission, hell even Hoarfrost has her forest. Raul's got his dreams of conquest and I just have a lot of confusion about what I want to do."
"The only direct I can think of is some ideal of bringing Lunars and DBs and Celestials in general together. Or maybe trying to stage some sorta heist, but what would I even be stealing and why?" "Even Pearls, before her essence got mixed up with mine, had a greater vision than I do. It makes it hard to figure out who I want to be and what I want to do. Some part of me just wants to flee back to Elderloch and help them put things together, be with my family there. And if I had even a clue as to what happened to my father I'd be searching for him, tho he's the sort of Dragon who'd wanna kill lunars." Amethyst sighs, "I think I'm just confused and uncertain, just, in general. So I tend to just go along with everyone else's grand ideas." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "But that's just it." says Fudou, looking seriously at Amethyst, "Exaltation didn't give Raullaur that goal. Those were his people and he always wanted to protect them and now he has the power to do so and the ambition to want to make a realm of his own. Exaltation didn't make Silk want to be the greatest spy and Bright Journey had her desires and her goals and exaltation bolstered that. Exalting doesn't give you a goal in and of itself. Your fellow Dragonblood exalt into families and dynasties that they are conditioned to be part of and to uphold."
fudou inclines his head and looks on at Amethyst, thoughtfully and seriously, "You spent all this time trying to be something you weren't and now you've found what you are. Surely that counts for something?" |
| Amethyst | Amethyst listens and contemplates Fudou's words. She is quiet for a time, thinking through all that she's felt and that she knows, closing her eyes as she recounts. "At least I know what I am, yeah." Amethyst says. "I think I want to make my own Dynasty, to form a family of my own making away from the Realm and Lookshy and the other Dragons who would sooner have me branded Anathema. And I want it to be a place where none of us need to fear things like the Wyld Hunt and instead focus on the actual threats to Creation, like whatever the hell happened to Thorns." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You can do that you just...you just have to be ready to fight for it. I think that's where Black Pearl, Salara, 'Pearly'.." the last one said with a bit of a laughing snort, "Struggles.. The realization that there might have to be bloodshed. You shoudl know that most Lunars plan to see the Realm fall. To build something new, the old may need to be burne ddown."
Fudou gesturs absently, "One thing is certain, luv, we can't just act like we can hide in Great Forks forever due to being worried about The Wyld Hunt. We're going to have to deal with them and shoring up our defenses nad offenses nad making allies is the way to do it. So maybe that is your task. You're a Dragonblood that has befriended powerful celestials. PErhaps you can find more." |
| Amethyst | Amethyst nods, "Like a connection point. Maybe I should make an actual thing that the chosen of the sun and moon can use me like a contact. Bonus points if I can learn how to convincingly lie about my identity so that no one knows it's me exactly."
"And yeah, we'll need to fight. I have absolutely no doubt about that in my mind. Why do you think I make it such a point to sharpen my skills against you and the others? And why I'm so concerend about making sure I can survive? We'll need an army, sorcery, logistics, the whole nine yards." "There will be a hunt mounted against us, but if we can win against them, they'll think twice about trying again. Doubly so once the Realm starts to implode. Lookshy is powerful but they don't have the kinds of resources the Realm has." "I think you're onto somethin' here Fudou. I don't want us to hide. I don't want us to need to fear for the Hunt. I want us to be ready." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Hmmm.. We the gods here know about us and dont' care. It's the unknown elements. Tiziri would urge restraint and caution...I think that's needed but I don't think it's in our nature to forever just duck and hide. If we want to life we're going to have to confront and force change."
He shakes his head and then says, "Perhaps I should enter the tournament.. I'll have to think about it. I think you should consider it though but you should know that you will likely do very, very well. You seem to have everything covered.." |
| Amethyst | "If I can win the tournament, or at least do well in it? I might be able to get some contacts out of it." Amethyst grins. "And yes obviously we should be careful and shouldn't be shapeshifting in plain sight and all of that. But maybe we should find some tyrant in the Hundred Kingdoms and topple their rule and take over. I mean we basically did that back in Elderloch." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "It might be more complicated then that but not a bad thought." notes Fudou, some experience speaking there as he notes, "I have been there. The Hundred Kindgoms is...chaotic and sometimes plays by unique rules. I was a Champion Gladiator once, long ago."
Still, he grins slowly and then says whle standing, "Well done! Start with winning the tournament. WHich you won't of course if I enter.." He grins, pointing at her with some humor in his tone, "YOu've others to contend with as well. You do understand there are more celestials here then the ones you personally know..and others that may yet join in. But like yo and I they have to think about if they will show themselevs or not." He inclines his head, "Do you think I should?" |
| Amethyst | "The other alternative is to try to create our own settlement." Amethyst says, "But that's also much more complicated than it sounds."
"In any event, somethin' to talk to the others about." Amethyst says, "I'm sure they'll have ideas one way or another. And since you've been part of it once upon a time maybe you can help us brace for the chaos we'll get into." "As for the tournament... hmm" Amethyst gets up, and looks up at Fudou. "I think you owe me a rematch, you got lucky and had to flare your anima." Amethyst grins devilishly. "See you in the Arena?" She offers a hand. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "I got 'lucky'?"
Fudou's eyebrows both lift at that. He looks aghast, unsure of how to respond to that at first. A laugh is on his voice but it doesn't come out as he tries to sputter and respond, "Do you -really- think that's what it was? Amethyst. You don't have to prove yourself with this false bravado." He pokes a huge finger into her hand. "But I will give you a rematch but there's something you need to remember, luv.." |
| Amethyst | Amethyst chuckles, "I know I'll probably get my ass kicked again, don't worry, luv." She teases. Then she's a little more serious, "At the least I'll hold you off again for a bit. Maybe if /I'm/ lucky we'll tie."
"Just imagine the two of us at the end of the bracket having both tied for first or something crazy like that." She can dream alright. "In any case, you wanna head to the Chateau? I think I should talk with Pearly and I know that place is your kinda hangout." She winks at him. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "Amethyst." rumbles Fudou, tone serious now, darker.
"Listen. The Arena is not Silk's Dojo. THis 'luck' you spoke of?" He shake shis head a little and then warns, "There may be others like me. Sneaking lunars. Solars who might want the clout and fame. Dragonblood. Mortals with strange martial artists. And the blows will be real. There will be danger and pain. So remember that before you go quickly asking for rematches and stepping into this. You're used to putting yourself in danger, true enough, but you haven't done a tournament before have you? It's a different sort of pressure and risk. Gladiatorial combat. I didn't get lucky. I"m a Full Moon of Luna. So dont' say that againor I"ll think you're not looking at this seriously." He holds her in his gaze, not even answering about the Chateau yet. "Understand?" |
| Amethyst | Amethyst frowns, held by Fudou's gaze. It's pretty hard not to be intimidated by the living mountain. Then she deflates and nods slowly. "One second you're praising me for my skill the next you're treating me like I don't have what it takes. Which is it?" Amethyst asks, now serious too. "You couldn't beat me without your anima flaring and revealing your nature. If we meet in the Arena, are you prepared to do that again?"
"Don't get me wrong I don't think I could win against you in a no-holds barred fight, but doesn't mean I think I might stand a chance if you can't just dump your essence and suddenly move tiwce as fast as me with more strength than a yeddim." "And I'll definitely make sure Rishi is /somewhere/ nearby in case I almost die from some hell-chosen giving no shits, using powers I can barely comprehend and damn near murdering me while I do my best to hang on for my dear life." Amethyst says. "Why do you think I'm so concerend about my vitality?" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "I didn't say you didn't have what it takes. I'm questioning your sense of scale. You're a powerful dragonblood but you're still..a dragonblood and there's a gap to overcome. You said I was lucky. YOu don't tell a dedicated warrior of Luna that. It's insulting. I handed you your ass and even had you been more aggressive you've always had a hard time even scratching me. You know this. Our past matches ended when we agreed to stop. I"ve never gone at you with full intnnt of doing you lasting harm and you've been beaten by me before just...I'm saying to be proud but don't let your pride create an ego so that youre unprepared for what lies ahead."
FUdou gestures around, "This...? This isn't real. It's a safety net. The arena can give you lasting damage. YOu can be maimed. Broken limbs. You saw when RIshi demonstrated her ability to regenerate her limbs. Can you do that?" His expression softens some finally and he says, "....Just be careful. Know your limits and watch your words." |
| Amethyst | Amethyst's face changes from frustration to understanding. "I, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said you got lucky." Amethyst says, rubbing her head. She looks at herself, contemplating how it would be to actually lose a limb. She has her telekinetic blood but that doesn't really make up for things. "I'll keep the smack talk on the down low, yeah?"
"And ya know, I grew me believing that the Dragon-Blooded were the most powerful sorts, and now that I've become one I get to find out that we're really not." She sighs. "I think I'm gonna head back to my shop and think about things." She says, her voice devoid of the joy she had but a few minutes ago. It's a practiced expression, one that doesn't betray her emotions too easily. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You've seen too much and grown too much for that now, Amethyst." notes Fudou, hands on his hips now as he watches her leave and doesn't follow. "You're smarter then that. Wiser. Stronger. Don't forget thatw. We're all just pieces in this puzzle. Large and small ones."
Her back to him now, he allows a look of mild frustration and regret. That's twice in recent memory he's dressed down allies over something and he shakes his head at himself, looking perturbed. "Even myself." he rumbles. They are planning a trip to see Raksi after all. He's no fool. Even he will be in grave danger if there is a misstep. "Come to the Chataue so you're not alone. I will give you visual spectacle if nothing else. At least, when you're ready to come." he offers, abit of humor returning to his voice now as she moves off. |
| Amethyst | "As much as I am I'm still just a dragon. And I fear I'll never outlive that fact. At least if I was one of the Dream-Souled again I would be more comfortable and I'd be able to remember myself better. I'd even have a home and a place where I can just /belong/ and not always be the odd one out regardless of how and where I go. I'm not a Celestial Exalted so I don't fit in with you folks, nor are my beliefs compatible with any Dragon-Blooded groups that I know of. My only refuge is Pearly and Rishi who just accept me as I am." Amethyst grumbles. "I can't even go with you to see this lunar elder 'cause she'd fucking eat me alive if I tried."
"Even among this fucking city of freaks and exigents and gods I still feel like I'm the odd one out. Be glad that you, at least, have an entire group that you can rely on for understanding, and maybe understand why I feel so fucking terrible about what I am." Amethyst is a mixture of crying and yelling by this point, not quite sobbing, she has too much composure for that, but the dragon is quite upset. |
| Fudou the Mountain | The giant lunar isn't having any of that.
"Amethyst what -is- this? Are you truly upset because Creations most powerful champions have an awareness that their gifts, from the most powerful of the gods, are greater then the gifts afforded to the dragons? How does that make us think you are less of a person? Think about this. If you were dedicating your life to brute strength and I broke a mountain when you could only manage a fliff side..would you be justified in your anger?" Fudou makes an absent gesture, "What about the swords of the generals of the sun himself? I thought you are wiser then this. Your friends have risked their lives on your behalf and at your request or did you forget that I have a oath-child with a fae general because I wanted to help you save your city and make sure you were happy? We do that because we think less of you and because you don't fit in?" He is..angry now. Fudou's anger a slow boiling volcano. A yell is surfacing but not there yet but he's displeased. "I did not tell you that you were weak but we are not the same and that is just reality. I fight armies and break mountains...but you? You are analchemist without peer and hold the hearts of not one, but two of my kind in your hands. You complain about possibly not being able to see Raksi..should I weep for not being able to go to the Imperial Manse?" |
| Amethyst | Amethyst goes to say something, her anger overflowing when something in her head clicks and she, somehow, manages to calm herself down. She just goes still, clasping her hands in a meditative gesture as she fights for control over her own emotions. There's a lot of fire in her heart, and she knows she must not let it overwhelm her. It takes a little while, but she does manage to regain control over herself through her meditation and breathing exercises.
"Sorry, I, I lost myself there for a moment." Amethyst finally speaks. She takes another moment to continue to calm herself. "I think a bunch of pent up anger and sorrow made its way to the surface here. And you've done a lot for me and don't deserve to see that side of myself." "I should be better than this. I should know that none of you truly think less of me. And I shouldn't concern myself with belonging as much, because you people have become my family, even if I am not one of you. I, I think that makes sense." All spoken in between her calming breaths. "I think that's why I need to be alone, so that I can sit down and figure out why, exactly, I feel so upset." Amethyst says. "I'm sorry Fudou, I, I shouldn't had let myself just fly off the handle like that." She closes her eyes and bows to him, and then walks and just sits down on the stone surface, placing her palms against it, feeling the earth around her and using it to calm herself. "I think I'll just meditate here until my emotions are less... furious." |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You were just happy about the fact that Rishi's pool unlocked somethign within you and you found your olden abilities once more." offers Fudou, both confused and also perhaps trying to give her something to focus on. He is...however..confused. So much so that he forgets he was getting angry and just looks at her. Maybe this is..a Dragonblood thing. Something to do with their elemental natures. She's water, not fire, but she's been accssing the fire so...
"Don't do this to yourself." he offers finally before turning and starting for the exit to give her the solitude she's requesting. This is as good a place as any. She'll certainly be left to herself. |
| Amethyst | "Yeah, I am. I really missed those powers even though I can barely remember them. Maybe I'm just upset that I ended up a Dragon-Blooded instead of a Dream-Souled... Certainly cost my mother and Elderloch enough for that..." Amethyst says, perhaps to Fudou on his way out, perhaps no one. Either way it seems Fudou's idea is working. |