isleofavalon | May catch-all

Entry tags:

May catch-all

🧙 WHO: Gokudera and absolutely anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: Mid-May catch all (training and other stuff that comes up)
🕒 WHEN: Mid... May? Before the event
🗺️ WHERE: Multiple places
⚠️ WARNINGS: violence, mentions of past sexual slavery, language

A. Training Grounds

Larry is sitting out in the middle of the training field, blowing bubbles to contain lit sticks of dynamite Gokudera is throwing into the air. Gokudera has discovered he has elemental magic and is working on what he can with wind, trying to push the bubble back towards his familiar, or up safely away from them both. He’s not successfully done either, and has just been creating useless gusts. The dynamite explodes in the bubble, the bubble pops, and knocks him down. This is getting very very tiresome, and his gusts don’t seem to be getting any stronger or going where he thinks he’s aiming them.

“Fuck... why isn’t it working?” He glares and pushes himself back up.

B. The Red Spring

No new arrivals from Namimori, it seems. Gokudera had spent the day watching new arrivals climb the cliff, wondering if he’d see someone from home. The journey back had been familiar and helped somewhat to clear his mind. But he’s been looking forward to bathing in the Red Spring. He feels partially new to Avalon after his reawakening, gone for years, and his body aged and scarred, when he’d apparently never left Camelot. Anyone who recognizes Gokudera from last month or any time prior will see the difference. Those who responded to his network post will already understand. But for those who have never met him, he’s acting very much like a new arrival.

The teenager lowers into the spring, the trunks he’s wearing keep him decent, but there is nothing to hide the vivid burn scars and long tally-marks down his back. There’s a black leather half-choke collar about his neck, and occasionally, there is a glow from beneath it, against the skin of his neck that looks like it’s burned many times over. Despite the fact that there is electricity attached to his neck, he fully submerges for a moment, then surfaces and decides he’ll play with the more illusory side of his light magic.

If you are unlucky enough to be anywhere near him, he’ll walk right up and offer you his entire left arm. It’s not real. It’s a smoke bomb, a prank, but hey, as far as your character should be able to tell, he just took off his arm and is handing it to you.

“Hey can you watch this for me? Thanks.” And then he’ll be getting out of the water so his familiar can be amused.

C. Wildcard! Seriously. Do whatever.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Mona is just awkward, do not worry yourself. On top of that, extremely judgmental when she need not be. As a seeker of truth, anything that can concise from what she thinks often will just spill out into words. It is a truth and genuine reason why she lacks friends. ]

Oh.....

[ Mona is absolutely impressed, she has nothing but stars in her eyes when looking upon him. ]

I must insist that you take me under your wing and teach me then? I am just a fledgling when it comes to studying light magic - however. Of course. I am a prestige and amazing student, so you would be foolish to over look teaching me.

[ Mona flips her hair, the flavor of pride leaking from her. ]

[Gokudera looks thoughtfully at her. He’s never taken anyone as a student, but he wouldn’t be… opposed. He takes the smoke bomb out of her hands and tosses it behind him, where it explodes into a cloud of smoke.]

Alright. How long have you been in this world? [He wonders how well she can commit, then he’s putting his head back on, turning it as if screwing it onto his neck.]

[ Mona cants her head, watching the smoke disperse into the air. Curious and thinking on the relevance of it all the same. She adjusts upon her feet once more, and then states plainly. ]

About a month give or take. I can make lights - star lights to be exact. I've been managed to create the view of stars from my homelands... Which I feel deals with the aspect of Illusions - however to make anything outside of that... I have not been able to.

[Most people would have thrown the bomb. He's just saving her the trouble. It might not have been very fun to have a smoke bomb blow up right in her hands. Gokudera nods listening to her, wondering why she wants to learn from him, of all things. They don't even know each other, not even having shared names. But... he's already accepted.]

What's your end goal? Illusions? Why?

[Gokudera moves to sit on the bank of the spring, lights up a cigarette, and makes himself comfortable.]

[ TO BE FAIR DO THEY EVEN HAVE BOMBS IN GENSHIN??? No I dont think so, she prolly was just sitting here absolutely confused in the first place. So much new stuff for her to learn, what sort of utter nonsense was all of this! She hadn't the faintest idea. ]

Isn't it obvious? Usage, foundation for other things - even in my world I was a Scholar. Astrologist even, the study of magic is something that I am looking for. Perfecting it is a common desire among any studious individual.

[ She watches him still utterly confused, but more or less if there was someone with higher prestige in front of her. She attempts to show - more respect then normal. Names can come later once the agreement was established - so she thought. It wasn't as if her name held value here in a place where her status meant nothing now. ]

[NO IDEA. But the more she may hang around him, the sooner she'll learn about bombs. Oh joy.]

I haven't met many Scholars. It's not so obvious. I know nothing about you.

[A gentle scoff. Don't be an uppity pupil, please.]

Any practical reasons? Your answer tells me little about you other than your love of learning, which... yeah, that's cool, but aside from that... what interests you the most about Light magic? Just... different applications? Anything very specific. Everything isn't the answer I'm looking for. Keep in mind, too, that it will help me figure out what to focus in on as your teacher. Gotta start somewhere. Can't just do a little bit of everything right out the gate. We should find a goal.

[Gokudera takes another drag from his cigarette, turns his head to exhale while talking.] Gotta work with me so I can work with you.

[ Mona about to make a complaint: Hello teacher? Yes, can you stop making bombs Im going to go deaf. Sir. Sir please. Sir hello? Sir can you hear me?? ]

Does it bother you I am woman of education? If I can learn the truth of Light Magic, and the depth of it. Then I can understand more of the laws of this world - since it is the magic attributed to me. It is what I need to work with, in my world I was a Truth Seeker. Here, it wont change either. My utilization of Light Magic, will pave for my own desire in how I reach the truth of this world we are stuck in.

[ She pauses and flips her hair, sitting down a bit away since she does not like the smell of whatever he is doing. She cant help but be reminded of Liyue harbors and how some smoke medicinal drugs. ]

Frankly, I dont trust the people who brought us here. So inorder for me to learn, I need to understand everything that there is to my own magic. Apply else where, discover more about myself and the world as well as its laws. Go from there.

[ Mona casts a glance upward and then thinks a bit harder. ]

Though learning how to make copies of myself would be extremely useful frankly, if not to distract others. I am a fighter, and can fight when I need to but the idea of not having too and slipping away pleases me a bit more.

[ I mean she has literally a skill in game that makes a 'copy' of her self as she runs away! ]

That said, then you should have my name too: Mona Megistus! I am the Great Astrologist from Teyvat.

[You'll get used to it, just plug your ears or get away from the bombs ASAP to better protect your ears.]

It doesn't.

Sounds like then the illusions and tricks of the eye, convincing your audience what is real when it isn't would be the most interesting. For that, maybe we should focus on producing shields and barriers out of light. Your light magic shouldn't just be light, drawing brightness and bringing it forth, but changing what people see, since after all, your eyes are what tell your brain what you're seeing. Change what they see, and then manipulate that. So... let's not talk about laws. It just sounds so restricting.

[Gokudera gives a shake of his head and then puts his cigarette out, tucking it away so as not to litter. The Red Springs are nice, after all, and should stay that way.]

Maybe we can start with visualizations.

[The odd way that his familiar created bubbles, with their odd swirling surfaces helped him with that, with making them pop when they wouldn't, or make them smaller when they would be big, and then to convince himself what he would do is real until it actually was. Bubbles were good practice for him. But there are other elements that could be useful tools.]

Mnnn I can also fight, but I prefer to set traps and maintain distance. [He fights dishonorably, Zuko has said. He'll probably never forget that.]

Mona, you can call me Gokudera. I'm the right-hand to the Tenth Generation boss of the Vongola family.

I read about that as well, I actually believe I managed to shape a shield back when the weird... Bird... Monster thing had gone amok in the forest not long ago. However I have been unable to replicate its effect again. Regardless you seem more adept and I will follow your guidance for now.

[ Mona takes what he says with respective consideration, thinks on it and leaves any conjecture against it for another time. When she is more adept with Light magic, and not someone who is just beginning to learn. ]

Oh? A lengthy title, hm... From my reading here it sounds as if you come from a Mafia family no? I read they have ties to military or law itself interestingly enough, we have nothing like that on my world. Just Knights and Government enlisted Militia.

[ That out of the way she points her finger up rather excitedly. ]

I wouldn't say no to learning about traps either, maybe to catch a bore or something to eat would be smart? No?

[ AH yes, always about food one way or another sometimes. ]

A shield? Like an actual shield? I'd like to have seen that.

[Not said with any doubt, but there is honesty. Gokudera has never tried to mend anything with an illusion. Maybe to conceal a weakness in himself so as not to give an opponent a viable target.]

There's writing about the Mafia in this world?

[He won't deny or validate that assumption that he's in the mafia. It'd be harmful to do so, and will just seem curious.]

Ah, I haven't tried it on any animals, or anything native to this world. Mostly I mean in combat against other people.

Right, I ... Still don't know how it was developed or conducted. Frankly, it happened in an accident. In my attempt to protect another.

[ Mona states which brought up her wonder if Magic often can respond to emotional turmoil. Since she never was able to do so afterwards again. ]

Have you not been to the Archivists home? Quite a number of information there... Ah, then theres the network. More or less, so long as you take the time to look and read. I only said as much because you said 'family.' Mentions of family typically are royal in mention or in the manner of how you said it... I suppose I thought otherwise. Still unsure, thank you for the verification.

[ Mona's eyes light up, her guess work and studying had began to pay off. This advocated for her to study more, when frankly this was in fact all she did in her spare time. ]

Oh! I see... OF course... Yes.

[ Shes a little embaressed. ]

Any guesses as to why it happened? [Gokudera hearing her say she was trying to protect another makes him think maybe barriers were easiest for him to learn considering his will has always been based on defense.

He shakes his head at her mentioning the Archivists home, then gives a hum of agreement when she mentions the network.] Yeah, there's a lot to learn from the network.

There items you can obtain from the traders that will let you trap animals for food. But I'd prefer to go to a butcher for my food or support the economy here.

[He will not tell her that he can't cook. Gokudera could set water on fire if he messed up enough, somehow.]

...

Oh there's a butcher..? [ Mona makes a face, because frankly thats too much money. She would rather spend such expenses on books, potions, anything of the likes for that mater. Not food... Never food even if she were always hungry and craving it. ] On the matter of the Shield, I think I was reflecting on someone from my homeland. Two rather, and in my attempt to help the other and wish that I had such abilities. I envisioned the same shape, and out came the shield like a star. Although temporary, it fitted itself accordingly for the moment. Then dispersed the moment the individual had been cleared.

[ A sigh. ]

.... I haven't been able to after that. My guess, as a scientist is the comfort and ability to protect another would invoke it more ordinarily. Unfortunate in my home world, I wasn't the one doing protection. Much of my combat were quick in maneuvers or leaving behind a decoy. That would combat and distract in my place so I can fight from afar.

Yes.

[He has no idea how often he'll be visiting the butcher, too. But if there is livestock in this world, and farms, then the meat has to come from somewhere and be distributed to the natives of New Camelot.]

So then it's safe to say that in instances where there is trouble, a shield would come naturally, right? [He thinks it's a safe assumption to make.]

In my home world, I had powers that mimicked many different elements, and in this world too, it should seem natural to be able to use such a similar magic. But... I have poor control over my elemental magic. It seems the more I want to do something, the less mastery of it I gain.

That is... Absolutely abhor and unfortunate. I am lucky that on this realm I can control water as wistfully as I could in the other. With some.... Differences. When it comes to light though, it tends to be beyond me oddly. [ Mona says her hands gently clasped together and, when they open a bubble or two forms from within. Floating away gently into the air. ] Do you mind telling me what elemental you control?

[Maybe because Light was his first magic, he's much more comfortable with it. It makes sense if he were to truly think about it, but Gokudera throws himself into trouble and tries to protect others more often than he wins fights. It's more an act of what he is willing to die for, not live for back home.]

I have poor control over a few, but the one I tend to produce most often is uh... electricity. Sometimes lightning... [He doesn't sound happy about this. Probably because he's electrocuted himself and set his own collar off in the act, so he's been pretty hurt and wary of training that element further.]

Lightning... An interesting element to control. [ Lightning to her were attributed to the Inuzuma Archon. It was rare for her to see those with electric visions but she came upon a few in the past. Along side her water Vision it often always led to... Uncomfortable mishaps. ] I can... Agree with that in many ways. On my world there are those who can wield the same element and frankly, along side myself. With control of water, it often led to..... Trouble some issues from time to time.

I never purposefully used that element. It just came out. But I'd much rather that than fire.

[He hasn't produced fire yet, and doesn't ever really plan on it. The scarring on his back is good enough explanation as to why he may not be keen to use that element.]

Well! [ A cheery but accepted chirp from her lips. ] No matter, practice makes perfect right? All the more reason we should help each other, I do enjoy my studies. As long as you have the time to mind it with me. I will gladly help and wish to be helped beside you.

Right.

[He can't help wanting to agree, especially if she'll be looking towards him for guidance with her light magic. He'll do his best to teach, but he's a better tutor than teacher. Gokudera gives her a soft nod.]

I can make the time. Let me know when you'd like to start and we can figure out how often you'd like to practice from me. [And he can practice from her, but he's not saying that.]

Now is as good as ever, I live within Camelot. A small little place bequeath to me by an elderly lady. She had this... Shop with a attic over it. The shop is unused to this day, the whole lot really. However she was happy to see it have use.

[ Mona explains, before telling him exactly where to find her. ]

If you ever want to stop by, feel free to.

I'm staying with my boss in the inn. I suppose we can train, but should we leave the Spring?

[Gokudera hopes that practicing with his magic will make him tired, will help him rest his weary mind. This is a good distraction, aside from the collar about his neck, which is relaxed, but he fears it will act up when his guard is down.]

I'm looking to move out on my own...

Oh for sure, are there times and places you have within your schedule that best suits you...?

[ Mona mulls over what the other says, she knows how hard it is to want to move out. She just had - destiny on her side. Though some would really call it Luck. ]

I know it can be hard... Have you tried looking around within Camelot yet?

I'm available most afternoons near the beginning of each month. Usually around the time we have new arrivals of off-worlders.

[He lifts an eyebrow at her question and shakes his head.]

It's not hard to find somewhere, but I'm having a hard time telling my boss and other roommate. I've not been doing well since I came back to this world, and I think they might worry about me.

[And he doesn't want his friends to worry, but also can't afford to be completely honest with them. Gokudera's bottling so much up.]

... Well if you'd like I don't mind pitching a place for you at the complex I am in. It could help you get to know the area. I cant imagine what troubles are on your mind, but sometimes just getting new perspective may help. [ Mona rises to her feet. As if readying to leave. ] I tend to be roughly busy for the most part, but the beginning of the month sounds like a timely spot. My nights are full of studies, and I travel about toward the forest. Where the Archivists Library is, sometimes I spend quite a bit of time over there. Basically, the place can be empty from time to time.

[ She shrugs roughly, not having a place to stay is something she can understand heavily. ]

May catch-all

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