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 Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:18 pm
Who: Sage, Sloane, Jin Ho, Paintbrush
Where: The main base, North Tower (Meeting Hall)
When: Midday
Why: Meeting and hiring of Jin Ho
Weather: Clear day with no snow fall but lots piled up. Cloudless and annoyingly bright.
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It was with a simple shiver that Jin Ho regretted his move; he knew from the beginning of his journey that the North was cold, far colder than he had ever been exposed to, and his body wasn’t afraid to let him know just how unaccustomed to it he was. He had been given cheap yet bountiful furs, enough to keep him content at the very least, but it couldn’t keep the bite of the air from his face. He was sure that his nose was red.
Days before he had made sure to prepare himself for today, his stack of parchments and scrolls in hand as his brush was tucked away carefully behind his ear. Jin Ho was greeted formally, met by a long row of guards standing post down the wide-set halls. He swallowed his nervousness, tentatively taking a few steps forward so that they could close the door behind him and shut out the cold. It was certainly more comfortable in here, at the very least.
“Sir, if you would come with me.”
Nearly jumping out of his skin, Jin Ho turned toward the short, stocky man that approached. ”Yes sir,” he said. With a short chuckle and an apologetic grin he nodded, quickly following behind.
Come now, Jin Ho, settle down… no need to be wound so tightly…
He was here to meet with the Lady Estratus as she searched for an assistant. Work was hard to come by at these times and Jin Ho certainly wasn’t going to skip such an opportunity, especially given his desire to become affiliated with the mages. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, almost as if it would somehow clear his mind of all the rumors he had heard of the Lady – many of which he dearly hoped weren’t true. The thick, stagnant air made it hard to concentrate; the Base’s thick, stone walls filled with the heat of lined up torches along the walls bounced around in an almost dizzying fashion. It was such a jarring change from the cold, and if he hadn’t bundled himself in so much clothing he might not have minded. It didn’t help that the particular hallway they found themselves in was thin, their heavy footsteps sounding as far down as he could see.
Removing his hood and loosening his cloak, the Imisian man attempted to breathe deep. It was obvious that he was foreign to Shyregoed, his dark skin and hair striking compared to most of the Northern Base’s inhabitants. His clothing was undeniably Eastern inspired, and while he had his reasons for moving he couldn’t quite allow himself to drop his heritage.
Despite his swimming head and jumbled thoughts, the sheen from the hanging tapestries caught his eye and made him lose focus, even if just for a moment. Such vibrant purples decorated with brilliant gold, accented by the gentle, orange glow of fire along the hall’s walls were certainly something to behold.
The man’s words went unheard, but the movement of his hand managed to catch Jin Ho’s attention. He nearly jumped once again but instead offered a small bow and an apology. The man didn’t seem to care all that much, simply announcing once again that they had arrived. He offered to help with the door but before he could even step forward they were pulled away, revealing a large dining hall; its tables dragged to each side to make a large, open space in the middle. Two figures stood at the end, neither of which Jin Ho could distinguish other than height.
Stepping in, he tried to bid his company farewell but they had already left. The doors shut behind him almost immediately, causing him to jump again, but once his composure was regained he quickened his pace just enough to reach the middle of the large room and gave a low bow.
”G-good evening, my lady. I am Jin Ho Kyon; I believe you have requested the company of those willing to apply for the position of your assistant?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:53 am
The interior of the room was as starkly stone clad as the rest of the bases halls, grey and droning, militaristic in its simplicity. Purple tapestries broke the monotony, golden trim and emblems showcasing Shyregoed's symbols, the insignia of the Panymese religion, and the Fellowship's recognizable eye. Several hung along the walls in patterns, particularly surrounding a fireplace tucked upon the outer wall where large frosted windows were inlaid to the stone. It was terribly bright outside with a clear blue sky reflecting off the white expanse and so the curtains were drawn, allowing only thin slivers through while the room was instead illuminated by fire. Candles rested upon the mantle, torches lit the walls, and a centerpiece stood proudly on the large wooden table.
An orange glow from the given lights reflected easily upon the Fellowship Adviser as she sat at the far end of the table, hunched over some papers. Her gloved hand quickly scribbled in neat and tight lines with a hawk tail quill, the scratching of its point against parchment and the low crackle of the fire being the only sounds before and after Jin Ho announced himself. Upon his introduction, her free hand raised with a single finger pointing upward and remained as such until she finished another few lines. Lady Estratus set the quill carefully back into the ink horn to rest, pushed it to the side, organized the papers until there was a free spot before her, and clasped her hands, finally raising her gaze to the visitor. Her amber eyes stood out against her pale complexion and dark hair, heavily lidded and scrutinizing as soon as they met his.
At the same time as her quill's sound ceased, there were several dull clinks and groans of metal scraping, adjusting, coming from behind her. It had been nearly impossible to see thanks to the bright stream blocking out the shadowed form but someone of large and impressive stature stepped closer to the window while still keeping their features hidden. While seated, they towered over Lady Estratus. The only feature of theirs Jin Ho could clearly make out were silver claws that came to rest upon the window sill, illuminated and accented with red across the back of the hand.
"Greetings, Jin Ho Kyon," her voice was cool, offering as little emotion as her face, "I am Lady Sage Estratus, Adviser to the Fellowship of Mages and its Grand Magus. You are here to meet this request?" She pushed the chair out and stood, arms tucked behind her back, and nodded to allow his approach. "I require the assistance of a scribe, someone quick and precise. The work is too great for my hand alone and I've been forced to neglect other duties as a result. You, of course, understand why this trend cannot continue."
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:01 pm
His bow was deep but he still glanced around the grand room in the meantime, soaking in the atmosphere of the daunting hall but the warmth of the fires were welcoming in its otherwise cold interior. Quick to silence, Jin Ho kept his attention on her even though his eyes wandered rather aimlessly but the sudden metallic sounds managed to pull him from his distractions, straightening up with a hard swallow. Even without seeing the full figure, his demeanor was threatening and if his claws were enough of an indication, dangerous.
Estratus’ voice was a better distraction, far more welcoming even though she was distant and professional, though he couldn’t help but pass nervous glances toward their… companion. With a moment’s hesitation he finally sputtered, unsure of whether or not he was actually supposed to respond but when she continued he shut his mouth tight, watching with obvious interest and respect. Tucking his bag carefully at his side, Jin ho took a quick stride forward and knelt, holding an arm behind his back while dipping his head. ”I believe I understand unquestionably, Lady Estratus. I assure you, I am well-schooled and am confident in my skills as a to-be scribe.”
With far less hesitation he reached up toward his ear while rising, carefully pulling out a brush that had been tucked away with care.
”My father made sure that I was to succeed as a scholar, so I am also capable of far more than just writing for you if need be.” he said, turning his head downward so he wouldn’t look down his nose to The Lady, just barely being taller than her, himself. ”I am also versed in healing magics, though I am far from perfect.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:26 pm
Both figures watched Jin Ho's approach, bow, and explanation. He was both ready to defend himself and sell his skills while also not blowing them out of proportion, keeping a humble exterior. Lady Estratus nodded as he bowed, though her chin lifted at the brush being brought out. Its scent was faint, a mix of bristles, wood, paint, and sickness, and though it was only barely detectable by both humans during the day the armored figure behind caught its delicate odor quickly. His claws drew in, scratching against the stone. Aside from a flick of her eyes, Lady Estratus ignored the gesture.
"That was to be my next question," she said a bit softer, "but we will get to such matters. Have you brought examples of your penmanship or will you provide now?" Her fingers reached for the pile of parchment, moving aside the ones she'd already written upon to find a blank sheet and push it his way, "And how fast are you at taking dictation?" She kept things professional and quick, rattling them off precisely. While Jin Ho was nervous and a bit fumbling he was at least keeping it together while he spoke and his posture was certainly noted.
As the matter of the brush was ignored, a deep rumbling breath sounded behind them. Claws tapped once against the stone, idly, before the third party finally spoke. "Lady Estratus," his voice was low but not quite as deep as would have been suspected from his stature though it had a suitable gravel to it and a clear amount of warning.
Once again her gaze flicked but she neither turned around to face him nor change her expression save for her brows setting subtly. "Yes, I'm aware. We'll get to that," her voice was more firm, authoritative, and thoroughly unfeeling. With her assurance, the armored claws relaxed only to scrape again a moment later as his arm was adjusted, one elbow leaning against the window sill as he hunched over and blocked the sun from his eyes with one hand. The figure leaned down far enough for his face to peek through the sliver of light through the curtains, wide and angular with his mouth curved into a closed scowl. Messy red hair hung over his eyes, brows furrowed above eyes narrowed in scrutiny, eyes carrying a deathly red glow in swirls upon red and black, eyes that stared directly into Jin Ho's own.
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:40 pm
While Estratus was quick to ignore the beast of a man’s gesture, Jin Ho tensed, brows setting but he did his best to keep his attention on the matters at hand, especially once Sage spoke once more. Clearing his throat, he nodded. ”I thought it would be best to show my work first hand so that there were no doubts, My Lady,” he said, his voice steadier than his expression as his eyes kept flickering to the glint of claws against the window.
Eyes finally passing to the paper as it slid against the wooden table, he remained standing, rolling the brush idly between his fingers. Jin Ho found himself needing to clear his throat again, though rather than making another noise through his nervousness he swallowed silently a few times, returning his gaze to Estratus’ ember eyes. ”Dictation is little to no issue. My hearing is well and I have strong comprehension – I can write about as fast as one can speak.” The more they spoke the more he found himself trying to stand straighter, appear more proper, but it was obvious that it was not in his blood and not his natural demeanor – he was a farm boy in the East who managed to make it into school, scraping by with funds but he excelled to make up for it. He had manners and knew his place, the entire time in their presence he had waited for permission for every little thing.
Once the figure in the back spoke the scribe froze up, finally allowing himself to watch as the behemoth approached. Jin Ho could feel his heart drop to his stomach, expression and demeanor faltering for a brief moment before swallowing hard and standing his ground with a shaky breath. Their exchange went above his head but seeing his form was incredibly daunting, a flash of hot fear running from head to toe. He’d never seen a Plague in person as far as he had ever been aware, and this man was massive. It took every bit of willpower to keep his jaw from hanging open before dipping his head in a bow – attempting to show respect as well as hide him from his vision for just a brief moment, at least until he could swallow his sudden fear.
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:26 pm
Contrary to Jin Ho's presence, the Fellowship Adviser exuded her title; she was of noble blood in noble birth, a noble raised, and it was obvious in her posture which was naturally straight and fixed. This, however, seemed to have little to do with their exchange and it had little to do with the meetings she'd had with other potential scribes earlier today and in the week. Jin Ho was, in fact, one of the last to answer the call but she surmised there would be one or two stragglers after him.
Lady Estratus nodded once to his explanation, finding it more than suitable, then quirked a brow as he continued. Her eyes soon drifted to the paintbrush rolling between his fingers, the gently blackened tip. All the while, as he tried to hide himself from the looming Infitialis' gaze, he would find it was hardly broken even by a necessary blink. The Adviser gently tapped a finger upon the parchment to call Jin Ho's attention back, knowing all too well what had just occurred without having to look. "Let us see, then," she nudged the page closer toward the edge of the table and then reached for the ink horn she'd been using, "There is plenty of ink. I shall dictate a simple passage and you will record it as such."
Once that was agreed, she returned her arms to her back and stepped to the side of the table, slowly adjusting her stance, then turned to face the Plague as Jin Ho prepared. His intent swirls locked with her heavy lids and the two glared silently at one another as the air tensed around them. When her gaze became too piercing for him the Infitialis turned his attention back to his Lady's applicant, a distinct cringe curling one corner of his lips that revealed the sharp curves of his teeth. When everything was set for Jin Ho, Lady Estratus recited not just a single passage but several; mismatched sentences from Panymesian texts, Fellowship tomes, numerous unrelated writings all interspersed and flowing together despite their obvious disconnect. She even sneaked in a sentence in Ardenian just to see if he'd catch it. It was all meaningless when put together but with how she'd spoken, neglecting any uncertain pauses, it seemed like it fit until one looked back and reread.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:27 pm
Thankful for his attention being brought elsewhere, the tap at the parchment more than enough to guide Jin Ho’s gaze regardless of where The Infitialis glared and without hesitation he took his seat. While The Lady allowed him time, he set himself comfortably in place and it took him far less time than he was allotted to be ready. He didn’t look away from the parchment even still.
As Jin Ho had explained his hand was steady and quick, writing neat and legible while following her words closely. The strange jumps were noticed but he didn’t bring attention to them, focusing solely on his work at the sound of Lady Sage’s voice, her words and her canter. He was used to listening to dictation from schooling and their professors were far faster with their words, notes practically required even with the best of memories with just how much they were required to learn. Every little thing was noticed, even the Ardenian – which was met with a small smirk on his half. Even if he had fallen just the slightest bit behind he was quick to catch up, able to store her words away long enough to write them down and soak in the new. The man was so into his work he hardly noticed that his brush needed no extra dips into the inkwell, no need to freshen up.
Once finished, Jin Ho wordlessly and habitually scribbled his name onto the bottom of the page and held it out for The Lady to take and look over. He still refused to pass another glance at the Plague, not so much out of disgust like most humans held for their sickly counterparts but out of fear. He had managed to calm and a considerable part of him worried that if he allowed himself another look that calm would break.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:43 pm
The brush's never ending supply of ink, or paint, was quickly noticed by both the Adviser and her Plague. While she remained taciturn, her companion gave a stiff inhale through his nose. As she spoke and Jin Ho wrote, the pair's eyes met now and then, communicating in silence with expressive glares and cringes from the Infitialis but only blank stares from his grimm. Once he was finished and the parchment was handed to Lady Estratus the armored Plague stood straight once more and took just two steps past the window and into full view of the dim firelight. His neck craned, lower lip hanging to reveal rows of sharp teeth and his eyes scanning over the page in scrutiny, then down at the brush.
A soft sound of acknowledgement left the Adviser when she found the line of Ardenian, which was copied accurately. She'd been a bit forgiving and made that one shorter than the rest. Jin Ho's scrawl was quick and neat, his lines practiced so they all spread evenly, and even with the use of the brush rather than a quill he managed to keep the words from bleeding into one another. It was more than obvious that the brush had something to do with it but it was difficult to tell whether its lack of need to be refilled merely contributed to him requiring no pause or if there was more at work. Even still, he didn't seem to react so how familiar was he with the brush and its nature?
"No issue, as stated," she said plainly, the back of a finger lightly striking the page. Her gloved hands rolled it carefully before she held it and folded her arms. Lady Estratus stepped to the side, blocking the Plague's gaze -- or rather, Jin Ho's sight of him -- and stared at the brush. "You spoke of other talents. Healing magic? I assume you are aware of your aperture. Tell me of your training." Once again the issue of the clearly plagued item was overlooked and this caused the Infitialis' expression to sour. Claws on both hands tensed and eventually scratched against his armored palms into tight fists. She was doing this on purpose now.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:04 pm
Patience was another thing he had learned with schooling, watching The Lady closely as she went over his work. He, himself, had little to no idea about his brush or its nature, having only kept it in his possession for a few days and he’d barely really used it. It wasn’t long until it was tucked carefully back behind his ear, its darkened bristles poking out from his dark brown hair.
With a small nod of a bow to her acknowledgement, Jin Ho lifted his head once more as she addressed him further, his expression calm but not quite as neutral as Lady Estratus’. A quick breath left him, his brows furrowing just a bit while he mindlessly attempted to mirror her as his arms were held behind his back – which was also an attempt at better posture. Her gaze toward the brush was unnoticed, having been tucked behind his ear it was easy enough for it to look like she was staring at him, instead. ”I’ve… honestly little training. At least, I’ve lacked an instructor.” he confessed, brows still knit slightly in embarrassment. ”All of my practices I have learned on my own from studies. I am capable of healing and mending wounds, though I’ve never held need to extend my services to anything worse than incidents with kitchen knives and burns.”
With the last confession he began rolling up his sleeve, exposing the tanned and worn skin of his arm. ”As for my aperture, it is located in my upper neck – where it meets the base of my skull. Now…” he stated, finally looking back up at the monster of a Plague, gaining back his confidence for the moment. ”I do not have a knife of my own and for the sake of example, if one of you would, er… do the honor. It should be deep but I would appreciate it not being anywhere vital.”
The man didn’t want to say it outright but he hoped it was understood, especially giving his baring of skin.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:32 pm
She listened intently, eyes not leaving his once he began. She gave no indication of acknowledgement beyond that even when he paused. That confession was a little troubling, it likely meant he was not involved with the Fellowship at all. As he said he was self taught, the likelihood of his magical interest being a mere hobby was extremely high but lucky for him magical aptitude was far from necessary for a scribe even in the Fellowship. Lady Estratus did open her mouth but closed it again shortly after when he began rolling down his sleeve. That aperture was far from common but it was sturdy, grounding an individual with their thoughts and the reality of their bodies.
When Jin Ho's eyes traveled over Lady Estratus' shoulder and locked with the burning glow of red swirls her expression firmed. She looked to the side in time to see subtle surprise wash over the Infitialis only to be quickly replaced with sadistic interest. His brows formed a hateful arch but his lips curled, amusement clear. "Sloane," she warned firmly before he started moving. The call caused his attention to shift and the smirk to fade but his gaze looked no less dark even as it fell on her. A few seconds of silence passed between them before she looked back. "Are you certain that's wise?"
The floor creaked along with his armor as Sloane drew closer, straightening his shoulders so he stood at full height before the foreigner. "Come now, my lady..." his condescension was clear and it did little for the Adviser's mood. The Infitialis raised his hand and rested it upon the back of the nearest chair, claws craning over it in a pattern and clacking against the wooden surface, "It would be an honor."
Still Lady Estratus frowned, her arms dropping to her sides. She studied her Plague scrupulously, a light crease forming between her brows. After a few moments she turned back to Jin Ho and gestured with her free hand toward his ear. "Before we move on, I'd recommend not carrying your brush like that. Set it down for now, please. It is tainted." Whether he was aware of it or not it warranted saying. After all, the dangers of putesco were known and the distinction of when immunity might set in for a grimm, if it even set in at all, was extremely unclear. "My apologies, as well. I do not know how familiar you are with the living plagues nor even my name. This is Sloane," she gestured with the rolled up parchment, not bothering to look at him, "my sword."
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:44 pm
With the Infitialis finally stepping forward, no, Jin Ho wasn’t sure it was wise. Not in the slightest. However, he intended to show that he knew what he was doing with his magic, even if it was all self-taught and most of his knowledge came from books. He wasn’t sure of whether or not she wanted an example of his abilities but showing was better than telling. With furrowed brows, he nodded.
Jin Ho’s arm withdrew just the slightest bit, eyes widening and brows rising as the brush was brought into attention. It was a hesitant movement but he reached up, taking a moment to roll it over in his hand before carefully, gently setting it on the table. It wasn’t until he was addressed again.
No, he wasn’t familiar with anyone of noble blood anywhere other than Imisus, and even then he only knew from teachings. He knew little of Plagues and their abilities but he had recognized those crazed, swirled eyes from descriptions he had heard from murmurs in the streets. In a sense, it was an honor to meet a noble woman’s Plague – he couldn’t hold the same distaste as others with what he had learned. The ones to fear were Infitialis, like Sloane, though he was intimidating physically. Then there were the neutral and lawful lines. Jin Ho had never met any though without realizing he had probably passed several. In fact, several stunteds were serving within the Council, his schooling having taken place in Gadu, and it was insanity how he had never come to notice.
”It is my greatest pleasure to make acquaintance with both of you. I am humbled,” he said, offering his arm once more. It was littered with a few scars, shining lightly in the fire’s light, but it was clear that they were all from work rather than his own hand or the hand of others – just a simple gardener when not working. ”I trust that you would not allow him to damage me further than necessary.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:00 pm
Both grimm and plague visibly relaxed once the brush was set aside, Sloane's eyes following it while Jin Ho resumed speaking. Lady Estratus' brow furrowed at his announcement of humility not merely toward her but the towering Infitialis at her side. That was unusual. No, it was unheard of. Her gaze flicked to Sloane whose attention had also been caught by such a statement but he did not allow himself to show surprise. Lady Estratus herself would hold no humble feelings of meeting with an Infitialis, certainly not one as willfully blood stained as her own, but she held her tongue on that matter.
At his assurance of trust, Sloane scoffed. "What better to damage than a sword?" he asked smoothly. One hand was held out toward Jin Ho's wrist while his eyes surveyed the man, sizing him up, seeing if he flinched. While his movements had been otherwise calm, Sloane very suddenly grabbed hold of Jin Ho's arm and simultaneously pulled it toward him as he took another few steps of approach. His grip was strong, unnecessarily so, but he held back enough that he wasn't causing pain so much as discomfort. A sneer of satisfaction played across his features, eyes widening with clear intent to intimidate. Making a show of it, his other hand was slow to approach. His fingers stretched, flexed, rigidly flaunting each of the slick blades at the tip of each. Eventually he settled upon one, his right index finger, and lowered it to hover just above the veins in Jin Ho's wrist. His brow quirked, glancing back to the man's eyes playfully, then adjusted to be further down and at a more curved angle. If Sage weren't intent to keep up her stony demeanor she would have groaned. Still, the urge to kick her "knight" was strong.
The blade was cold against his flesh, sharp but at rest for a second. It wasn't until Sloane dragged the finger down and curved around that it sliced at all. A thin, precise mark cut through several layers of skin, red pooling to the surface quickly and eagerly staining his clear steel. He gave equal showmanship to withdrawing the claw, ending the cut with a quick flick that would have caused a more sharp pain but it was no deeper than the rest of the requested injury. The plague did not release his arm entirely until a moment after he surveyed his work and gave a soft sound of approval. Lady Estratus made a sound with the opposite intent.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:20 pm
While Sloane had made a show of intimidation, bearing down on the man with intent to frighten him, Jin Ho kept his eyes down on his arm. Even when he was grabbed and pulled forward, his brows furrowed harshly while letting out a startled and uncomfortable hiss, stumbling at the sudden movement – he certainly didn’t suggest this treatment but he knew that the Plague was of chaotic alignment when he requested assistance.
Just before his steel met flesh Jin Ho took a deep breath, raising his chin despite keeping his eyes down to survey. He’d never been cut with something so sharp, not even while working in the garden. It was a strange sensation; deep, painful but smooth, even as the Infitialis made it a point to move slow, to drag out the pain. The only response Jin Ho offered was a grunt near the end, a near wheeze that rose no further than his chest and throat when it sounded. He watched the blood pool and drip, running down his arm and onto the floor which caused him to wince – at least it was stone rather than fabric or wood and would be easier to clean.
Pulling a long handkerchief from his pack, holding his arm close to himself he flicked the fabric to straighten it out before quickly wrapping it around the injury to keep the blood from doing further damage to the furnishings, offering a small grunt in apology for the time being. Pulling on the end tightly, he surveyed his work to make sure it wouldn’t fall off or slide around. The blood was staining it quickly despite Sloane having missed the vital arteries so he had to work fast, his face already feeling flushed. With another deep breath Jin Ho closed his eyes, holding his hand just above the wound in question – it seemed like nothing was to happen, a long pause making the room fall silent before he began mumbling under his breath, chanting a spell that couldn’t be understood at that volume. There were no lights, no flashing and now exaggerated showmanship but it was clear that something was causing discomfort for the man, his face contorting in pain though muted.
With a louder yelp of pain he stopped, holding his arm daintily in his hand, breath heavy and labored. Jin Ho only stood that way for a moment, stretching out the afflicted arm before bringing it back in and untying the knot he had made. When pulling away the cloth he didn’t flick it like he had earlier now that it was soaked but he also didn’t pocket it, holding it carefully at his side while offering his arm back out for Sage to look at.
While it was covered in fresh blood still, there was no more gushing, no more dripping and resting in the gash’s place was a large scar as if it had been healed for years. Using the cleaner portions of the handkerchief, he tidied up his arm just a bit more.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:54 pm
Spoken incantations were common with magic, especially for those who did not wield staves. The lack of a staff on a mage either meant they were practiced enough to no longer need one or they were greener than grass. It was easy to tell, even without Jin Ho having mentioned, that he was new to magic but that did not mean he was without skill. Once the healing process was finished it was clear, in fact, he possessed some talent for the art and even if he had been doing exclusively independent studies it was more than just a simple past time to him.
Sloane was almost disappointed to see his handiwork go to waste so quickly but the presence of a long scar in its place allowed him to perk up. He would be marked forever, whether receiving the position or not. It would certainly add insult to injury if he went to all this trouble and was not chosen, a hope which now settled firmly in the Infitialis' breast. However, he was the only grimm to apply thus far and, as Jin Ho wiped up more of the blood, his swirls set mindfully upon the brush which sat motionless.
"Without instruction," Lady Estratus stated rhetorically as she inspected the new scar. Once more her arms folded, tapping the rolled parchment lightly against her arm. "Where do you hail, Mister Kyon?" The Northern Bases were far from any civilization save for Stillcrest, Shyregoed's only port, and it rested farthest from anything. Freykeep was the most realistic if he were to have undertaken any Fellowship training but he said himself he had not, which could have put him anywhere in Shyregoed's sprinkled villages. There was still the lingering fact he did not wear any indication of the region's color, nor any insignia of the Fellowship at all. "I see no hint of affiliation. Not an augur, soldier, or clergyman," she raised one brow curiously, tilting her head to observe his appearance further, "Where did you study?"
His fun had and duty finished, Sloane pulled the chair he stood beside out, where Lady Estratus had previously been seated, and lowered himself comfortably. Even bent as he was the top of his head still reached high and he maintained his attention on the brush while his grimm inquired further of matters he cared little for. All he was interested in now was biding his time until the putesco was discussed, trusting that his lady would not overlook it once business was wrapped up. Sloane knew all too well she was interested in it too, he could tell by her shifting posture whenever she glanced at it and each time he confirmed a predicted look he felt a swell of pride.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:42 pm
The man couldn’t help but feel a ping of pride, even if The Lady held no tone of impression. A lot of his scars were from work but he had long practiced, a few of them being a result.
Jin Ho perked up once the initial question, unsure if it was recognition of him as a foreigner or if she actually didn’t find anything familiar about his appearance at all. There was little pause before the next question was asked and in the meantime he had taken to shaking his arm to get the blood to dry faster so that he could roll his sleeve down. ”I am actually not from these parts, My Lady. My home is in Imisus, resting between Pont and Ald. My family is not but mere farmers… I studied in Gadu for several years.”
His eyes drifted to Sloane in that brief moment, watching him sit and keep watch of his brush. It would have surprised Jin Ho had it not been pointed out that it was tainted, something he had no idea about when it was pawned off on him. Forcing his attention fully back on Lady Estratus, he added, ”If I am not qualified for the position, I will be heading back within days.”
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