poi 16, library; video

[blitzcheer]

Hey guys! [ As soon as the video feed cuts in, so does Tidus's voice, a smile and a hand raised to the screen. He's by one of the tables, breaking the 'be quiet' rule of all library spaces for a good reason - the reason which is spread out on a table, showing a selection of bottles, equipment, and even plants - one of which glows a soft gold. ]

Welcome to the newbies! I wanted to talk some about the healing we've got for people to take when they need it - plus, there's some making I was thinking some of you might be interested in - these!

[ He's grabbing a small pouch, removing the contents, and bringing a view of small green sweets sitting on his palm. ]

They're candies made from the plants we've got here. [ He nods back, and still in view is the golden plant, as well as less glowy variant. ] We've got a bunch growing, and they can be made into salves too - they're from Roland's world, and he got a book that tells you how to make them! But-

[ But- Tidus chuckles. ]

Well I've never made them before, and Roland hasn't either! Sooo... I was figuring we've got enough people here who're good at making with herbs and in the kitchen - how about we figure it out? Give people more options for healing. Then we don't have to pay for 'em. [ Heheh! ]

There's plenty of the plants in the greenhouse if you wanna try on your own - thanks, Persephone! - and the book on them's in the library. I'm gonna put some of these [ he holds the sweets back up, while also putting them back in the bag ] into the supply locker, so you can check them out. Try making them whenever you want!

[ He can't figure out the tie right now, or it's just a little too distracting. But Tidus is quiet, before he looks up from the pouch to the screen, and then to the side. His tone shifts. ]

And... if you ever worry about taking supplies when other people need them, don't, okay? Carry them with you. If you need to know how they work or just wanna ask about them, you can. And you can ask people to buy what works where you're from too. A bunch of the potions we have - they saved me more times than I can count back home. And I know Trunks swears by senzu beans.

So - yeah. [ He pulls a smile, small as it's turned. ] Drop by the library if you want! I've got an alphabet to count 'til it sticks.

[ Heh. ]

Comments

[bakegarasu]

Shinjuku, in Japan. It uses technology. I didn’t even know that magic existed until a week before I came here. I nearly died, and then the city’s will picked me to defend her.

[His voice cracks slightly, but he keeps going. He has to.]

There’s yokai - monsters from folklore. But they only exist as long as people believe that they do, and most people don’t anymore. So they’re getting sick and dying. A Karas - a city’s guardian - has to keep the people and yokai in their city safe.

[blitzcheer]

[ Huh. Tidus comes back to the counter, with the mortar and all. ]

So... what were you protecting them from? --You're protecting the yokai?

[ He's heard that word before, briefly. But here - if anyone sounds like they need protecting, it's the monsters. ... whatever monsters mean, in this case. ]

[bakegarasu]

From each other, in some cases. Or from outside threats - in my case it was the previous Karas who went crazy and tried to force people to believe by terrorizing and killing humans.

[He’s thought about Eko’s plan over and over, but it still doesn’t make sense to him.]

Only a Karas can kill a Karas, so she found me when I was dying and saved me.

[blitzcheer]

Eesh. [ It's more of a response to the first part, which isn't so surprising. You get weirdos on any planet. And off planet. ]

So, you're a real Guardian type! For a whole city. No wonder you stepped up and wanted to help Red Team.

[bakegarasu]

Yeah, pretty much. Which is kind of funny, given my past... I was usually the one attacking people rather than defending a place.

... But I care about Shinjuku. It's my home and I've never really left before this place. It's... everything to me.

[Hm.]

Not in like... a creepy way? But it's the place I know and care about.

[blitzcheer]

That's not creepy. [ Not at all. ] Caring about it's a good thing- and if it's the only place you ever knew, it makes sense. And being its Guardian.

[ That was a big job! ]

You don't feel... [ Hmm, wait. How to phrase this. ] You're not, like...connected to the city though, are you? Like- from dying, and coming back? Some kinda magical connection?

[ That could totally be a thing, right. ]

[bakegarasu]

I don't... think so?

[That's a wrinkle he'd never thought of.]

I mean, other than living a really long time. I imagine a city that's not a city anymore wouldn't need a Karas... but other than that, I don't think so.

[blitzcheer]

Huh! [ Alright, sounds normal. Nothing wrong with it, even. ] I know some people are like that. Taiki, he's Red Team too? [ But never with Red Team- ] He's some kind of appointed person for the kingdom he looks after. He decides who its king is and that, and he gets a strong bond to everything. So I wondered if it was like that.

[ Similar, but not entirely the same. ]

But, I think it'd be weird to be that connected to a city. Would you feel if a building went down? Everything needs construction all the time!

[ It's a far from serious question, Tidus huffing with mirth. ... ...

... but he's definitely going to be thinking about the downsides of being 'magically and emotionally connected to a city'. ]

[bakegarasu]

Oh, no. I mean, I saw a lot of buildings go down - it was upsetting, but I wasn't hurt because of it.

[Well.]

Other than the ones I was slammed into. But that's different.

[blitzcheer]

A lot different, [ Tidus agrees, some level of amusement (just a little) in the answer. Sheeesh. Rough life. ]

So... [ He starts, figuring out how to phrase what he wants to ask. ] If anything happened to the city, or, I mean... you stopped being its guardian, would you be okay?

[bakegarasu]

I mean... I'm not going to die.

[He's pretty sure that wasn't what Tidus meant, but he's not going to be the one who brings that up.]

[blitzcheer]

Oh! That's good!

[ Actually, that's exactly what Tidus meant. ]

Sometimes that...happens, you know? With bonds. But it's good when it doesn't.

[ Relying on connections to live. ]

[bakegarasu]

Why, is that something you have to worry about?

[Why else would he bring it up?]

[blitzcheer]

Huh? N-no! I'm not a city defender! I'm just a guy!

[ He puts up his hands, at least genuine in his reaction, caught off-guard by the question. And maybe stumbling to say what he actually means, but, just give him a second- ]

I-I mean, it happens where I'm from... people get put in statues, and then they live that way! But they can choose to leave when they want to.

[ He might be rambling a bit. ]

[bakegarasu]

Put in statues? How does that even happen?

[He pauses his work to tilt his head curiously at Tidus.]

And how can someone like that choose to leave if they want to?

[blitzcheer]

Mmmmrgh, [ this is honestly stuff he still doesn't get himself, but, ] well... it's more like their souls get put into them, if I understood what was happening. And then people called summoners can get them to help them out when they need them.

And then they just...choose to go, when they went to? [ He tips his head, would work with his hands if he was confident about doing anything without Otoha's lead, but he doesn't have that confidence. ]

'least, all the ones I met did before I showed up here.