RP between Rigby, Rook and AJ
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Rook — 12/27/2020
Quinne had ended his personal Yule celebrations with a deeper sort of magic alongside Zaffre, but now he was eager to try more. The weathered book he carried was wrapped in cloth, mostly to avoid gossipers from picking up on its contents somehow by observation alone. Given the hour, he doubted there'd be many people lingering around the park, outside the pair he had mentioned the book to already. Once he got there, the vampire set the book down on one of the benches and kneeled down next to it.
Having one arm had become more frustrating to deal with, but he didn't let that annoyance show too much. The last thing he wanted was people asking questions (as if they didn't do that enough in regards to him returning with just one arm). His chest ached less, atleast. The cloth was opened up and so the book followed, as he went through some of the sanguine rituals eagerly.
Rigby — 12/27/2020
ʜᴜʟʟᴏ, ʜᴜʟʟᴏ.
As often was the case, Polpetto beat his master to their intended destination; this time, riding upon his feathery back was a small salamander, eyes luminescent, sightless and green, and limbs stitched together by a startlingly careful hand, that same green peeking out of the seams.
Aldo was close behind, this time, wearing the long green coat (which clinked faintly with the sounds of whatever may have been the mysterious interior pockets. He'd approached and perched on the edge of the bench.
"Well, what'd you end up with, here?"
Polpetto's eager little snout poked around the pages, too - nearly unseating the undead little wriggler ontop his back.
ᴡʜᴀᴛᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ?
AJ — 12/27/2020
The Vaidya was rarely in a hurry to get anywhere (except, of course, to get away from some trouble they had caused), so they lagged behind to amble with Aldo, dressed in an extra layer of long robes, red and gilded and trimmed in a bit of fur, and soft suede boots to help against the chill. Presumably they could feel it. Perhaps it was just for show. If that salamander had a twin, it wasn't immediately visible, but they had their heavy bag of Tricks and enough pockets to hide any variety of objects or beings.
They settled the bag on the other edge of the bench, so as not to encroach on his reading. Quinne's chosen position on the ground did made it very easy for them to lean right over him to peer at the pages, and they pocketed a hand that very likely wiggled with the desire to flip a page without asking. "Hm."
Rook — 12/27/2020
Polpetto was poked gently in the side, though he eyed his little passenger a moment. "Good evening." He offered to the manaraptor, but it was also directed to his owner and he looked up at him. "It was a gift from a business associate, a rather unexpected one." Quinne certainly didn't expect the man to have sent him something so useful.
"I was hoping to make use of this...portal. It will probably take me a while to master it, but it would make going back and forth to places so much easier." Quinne replied, as he moved his hand from hovering near the raptor to the page again. The Vaidya's arrival was noted as well, but he returned to staring at the book.
"...And a lot of blood."
Rigby — 12/27/2020
Quinne now had a regular audience; all present save for the undead salamander seemed to be actively at least attempting to steal some glances.
"What kinda' gift?" It was spoken in such a way that strongly implied he was already, genially shoulder-reading. "More...what's he expecting? Seems a pretty hefty gift!"
And now he blatantly was squinting at it. If the idea of the mechanics of blood magic was farily didn't quite gel entirely in his mind, presenting it as a means of bioelectricity, and the idea of following the imperceptibly small fragments of energy as they'd winked to and from other worlds had. Blood and water was conducive; flesh impeded.
"I see. I think. What are we looking at, personal, group portals? Our own blood?" There was a startling lack of horror about the later statement.
"That thing give you...practice exercises?" Before they bleed a goat over a portal summons or something!
AJ — 12/27/2020
At least the oblivious salamanders could have each other for company, as the physician's sluggishly wiggled itself out of the maze of pockets and heavy robes. Still able to cling to the outer fabric, the thing was a mashup of tiny metal pins to reset broken limbs, and a series of careful, very precise stitches, holding together wounds and channels cut alike, those weird fleshy runes that leant only temporary life. The doctor scooped it up with one hand before it could make good its escape and set it on their shoulder, where it bobbed its head and wobbled in Aldo's direction.
"For something in return, I presume." But they were unaccustomed to gifts for gift's sake, everything was for a trade, just as Quinne only wanted them here to use for whatever ritual he planned to experiment with. "Your own form of moongate." Expecting they knew where he intended to open it to—if it allowed for that, and was not merely a terrestrial construct.
Blood magic made sense to them. Even if they couldn't directly control it, the idea did: blood channeled lifeforce, channeled mana, treat it as a stream, like water, it was merely the means of mobilizing things. He had good company for body horror at least, the doctor adding no comment to the idea of donating theirs. No protest, anyhow. But a quiet snort at Aldo's last remark: they'd read enough textbooks of varying levels. "Perhaps smaller, matter-transportation, before attempting something sentient." They reached up to grab their salamander again, only to mouth a confused 'oh' when they realized it was gone. It had made the dramatic, hilarious, stilted jump to Aldo's arm in the meanwhile.
Rook — 12/27/2020
"This book, some bloodwine. I don't think they expect anything in return, but I gave them some stuff anyway." A gift for a gift. Quinne doubted the Doktor expected anything without telling him, because their business certainly included that sort of communication. "We've already made our trades recently, so I know it's not that." Atleast more business-orientated trades.
"Maybe both, I can imagine I can use it for others provided I have their blood added." He said thoughtfully, but it would be something else he'd test. With animals first, just to be safe. "I do intend to practice, I'm not going to rush into it." Quinne grumbled when they both presented the idea, as if he wasn't going to be smart about the whole thing.
"I know how to practice magic, by the way, I've been doing it for years." He glanced over the page again, but looked to the salamanders they had. "Going to start a collection?" First wings, and now critters!
Rigby — 12/27/2020
He raised both hands, revealing a salamander apiece, clinging to each. “Never implied you didn’t know! Was more so asking what else was in there! Warm up acts you could try in a park with less preparation than a portal, or any standout notes you weren’t expecting. Unless it goes from zero to world hopping! Which, ‘mean!” He bobbed his head at an angle, bit his lip. “Wouldn’t mind that!” Quinne was quite young yet, but Aldo wouldn’t outright discourage any poking into this sort of thing - especially if this was the route he wanted to go down!
He did not press what the deal with Quinne’s benefactor was, if only because the notion that this trade partner could offer any sort of deal that would shock Aldo never occurred to him. Vampires, and Quinne in particular, were privy to resources many were not.
Then he looked from salamander to salamander on each hand and grinned as each climbed to the tips of his still outstretched fingers, and he rolled his wrists for their sake. “Polpetto donations! As long as they keep coming, I’ll keep animating!”
AJ — 12/27/2020
"I assumed you already knew the book more intimately than us." But they'd still find Aldo's 'practice exercises' remark giggle-worthy. "It is an intriguing gift all the same. What else do you plan to explore from it?" It was the most polite 'I want to read your book' while keeping their hands to themself.
When he drew attention to the salamanders, their eyes drifted from the tome to the two perched on Aldo's hands, and they reached past their own to hold out a few fingers to Aldo's own creation, intending on inspecting it. "I doubt mine will remain animated for every long. I did little to preserve it. ...Although something this small is quite useful for covertness. I practiced for many years on small creatures." They hefted the little guy, turning him over to inspect Aldo's own needlework, the subtle greens of his magic. "...The bees still pose issues. And I require more wings for Neeva's mad idea." So perhaps an army of salamanders in the meantime?
Rook — 12/27/2020
"Other rituals, the basics of blood magic. I've already put a lot of work into mastering that." As expected. Quinne turned a page, running his fingers along it. "There is blood scrying, transmutation. I am...not a man of alchemy, but it offers insight into that as well." Perhaps the only sort he'd try, if only for the sake of personal healing and health. "I have already gone with the blood bonding." An act that had been with only one person and would remain that way.
"If I can make more creatures like Wight, I could use them for different means." The cryptid had taken a lot out of him, and he wasn't so sure if he wanted to keep going. "Are you still using them for that?" He asked the pair, sitting this time, since the stone on his knees didn't offer much comfort.
"More wings...I wonder where else you could get them." Quinne flipped more pages, going to transmutation. "This claims any biological matter can be transmutated from blood...I wonder if that includes your needed wings."
Rigby — 12/27/2020
"Talk to me about the bees, Doctor! I can get them kicking, but there's not much else there to work with!"
Aldo's stitched little salamander turned a jerky head towards the Vaidya's fingers, before bopping a snout on their fingers and reaching a grabby little hand (with a couple missing digits - unfortunately lost to the manaraptor's belly long before!) to cling to the human's. When they inspected it, it was a patient subject - though whether that was due to its own make or volition or Aldo imposing any sort of command was not immediately evident on inspection.
He bobbed his head again, bit his lip. "Thought about it. Should I need to be covert and Pol here just won't do. Or is too damn green!" Polpetto ruffled his feathers, crest rising but apart from a little hum, said nothing. "Maybe I could send it at one of your boss' little golems, they could tangle!" The high-strung butcher would either get hilariously upset or find it amusing, Aldo figured! "Though...I did get a new toy outside of my usual means that could help with that, too!" And Lae's gift was one of magic entirely outside of life, energy and death, and one he wanted to play with *frequently!"
"I'd like to see the alchemy pages. If you like, when you're not using it, 'course! Could give you collateral or something if you like!" One horror for another, like some morbid library rental!
"The blood would likely need a template to guide it. Kinda' like the wing-potions used what it had to work with. But...perhaps only one blood 'sample' - could get many copies or versions of a certain type of wing?" He had no idea how this magic worked! But...cloning, Aldo. You're describing cloning.
AJ — 12/28/2020
They ran a thumb over the little creature's belly, petting the undead amphibian gently. "Their exoskeleton makes my cuts difficult. Their bodies simply burst. I have to take a different approach. Perhaps a fine tool to etch into the chiton. Ah, but they are so soft..." They looked about to toddle off in their thoughts, but their eyebrows snapped upwards with their attention and they curiously leaned over Quinne again. "Transmutation? Alchemy?" Yeah, that was definitely more their area of study, and their gaze was hungry.
"I have collected many books on blood, some I am unable to utilize as I haven't the prerequisites." Life was difficult as a magicless human. Or as something that toed the line between alive and undead, and didn't quite meet the requirements to utilize abilities inherent in either. And that book they had brought with them... That had gotten them and Jaxamir running and then lost across this moongate in the first place. "If the sections are not of interest to you. I would not wish to tear apart your book." At the very least, a temporary trade.
The doctor paused. "I am unsure. If only to amuse Neeva. They are not large enough for flight on any person of our size; perhaps on something much smaller. I suppose the venture is frivolous. But an interesting study in incorporating appendages into bodies that were not intended for them." And that was half their work! "it is time consuming and wasteful to feed people those tinctures simply to harvest them..." They rubbed their mouth. "Are you aware of any large winged creatures native..." The Vaidya's voice trailed off so as not to speak over Quinne, and here they were, leaning in again—this time at so sharp an angle they had to put a hand on the bench to steady themself. "Yes, that could work. The premise makes sense. Providing both the building blocks and latent mana. Ah--" A template... "Perhaps matter from a similar creature, but that is not exact enough. Likely instructions, enscribed runically, for the blood to follow." They scanned the text over his shoulder, sleepy eyes unblinking and trained. "May we try this?"
Rook — 12/28/2020
He listened quietly to talk of the bees, though added nothing to it. Given his disinclination of their magic, he wanted to stay right out of that conversation. "That'd be interesting to see, I'll pitch the idea to him if you don't beat me to it." When asked about the alchemy, he hummed faintly. "What would you let me borrow in return?"
Quinne liked trades, but he was wary about them having the book all the same. "I want the book back intact, it was a gift and I refuse to let someone damage it." Pages and all. "What kind of books? What do they say about blood?" He went on to ask, nodding in regards to what their project was for. It was probably easy, the vampire assumed, since Neeva didn't come off a difficult creature to entertain.
"Dragons, probably gryphons." He said in a tone that was close to following up with 'good luck with those'. Perhaps it didn't need to be said. "I guess we'll figure something out."
Rigby — 12/28/2020
"I take good care of all of my books!" A gesture that indicated he could only speak for himself; Polpetto had no compunction about nesting or walking over pages, and he was absolutely certain the Vaidya would tear out half of the book for the sake of science. "It's the journals y'gotta' watch out for. Once papers get past a certain age, I stop caring and don't know how to stash'em." The Vaidya so far had been the only one aside from his very small family (and likely, one who'd given Quinne grief several years ago, now) to catch and keep glimpses of such things; some of the notes they'd received in his hand regarding his own findings had been so old as to endanger the paper itself, binding loosened, edges crumbling with severe age and faint whiffs and yellow traces of mildew on many. How long had he kept these around?
"So Quinne. If you've the faintest bit of curiosity, scientific or otherwise about..." He broadly swept to himself, then spread his hand out; himself - all of it, I have books. I have my own notes. I have experience I can put to paper, should it not've made it that far, yet." He may have opened his new journal with an entry about Thornmouth, but then had promptly cycled back to several entries before, several years before.
He'd tilted his head; a motion unconsciously mirrored by his own little undead salamander. "'Prerequisites,' Doctor?" That had piqued his interest strangely more than most of the subjects flying about them.
"For trade - Blood'd be the obvious choice, for consumption or...trying out anything in here." He flicked the book lightly with a backward rap of his knuckles. "You keep it, obviously; I don't want it back once it's out of me.
"Electricity, the energy in life, the movement that animates biological material itself...does not necessarily need to apply to anything about the dead." As if catching Quinne's drift, or simply reading the room enough to be aware of his company. "I've got plenty regarding that if necromancy isn't up your alley. Nothing much enlightening about blood magic, but perhaps depending on what you choose, a deeper understanding of why it works, and how it ties into the...whole. The big picture, the Great Work." Trust Aldo to make rather large concepts sound so casual, on the level of discussing the herb in his pipe.
"If you DO jump right into portals, be cautious with mine. 'Cos you're getting that blood." He did not elaborate, though the tone briefly lapsed into something darker than his usual. But he did snort at the mention of dragons and gryphons. "Sure!" He'd not seen anything wrong with that. "Provided the matter's willing, it's not as if we have any shortage of the former." Sorry, Most- Of-Ev's-Family. Except the kids, nobody was touching the kids. The dragoness might have been intimidating to him, but from what few glimpses he saw of her proper, he could strangely see her pitching herself into some soup - if she could stick around and dutifully record whatever resulted. He'd shrugged, otherwise. "Could catch you something, too."
AJ — 12/30/2020
"I would not damage it." Although they didn't defend themself against Aldo's subtle implication. They did have that habit—but they intended to return the book to Quinne, and to maintain at least an amicable relationship with him; it would not serve to disrespect a loaned item like that. The Vaidya looked from Quinne to Aldo when they both asked. "Some describe blood magics, uses, and manascience theories on it. But I am unable to manipulate blood directly, in the manner Quinne can. They are interesting, but not practical for me at this moment." Their end-tone implying that they would be in the future, if they ever gained that kind of ability—somehow. "I will go through my archives and bring some scrolls and books for you to inspect." Besides, if he did end up trading only with Aldo—no doubt the physician would snoop over his shoulder.
Of course—no amount of books could really hold a candle to Aldo trading himself. The good doctor was perhaps a bit envious. Jealous? They were not nearly as interesting a subject. Their faint, judgemental squint was a resoundingly unspoken 'you slut'. "I am human enough, I do not think you could glean anything from my blood." Although—"Perhaps the nature of my decay, however that information is likely of more use to me than it is to you. But you are welcome to try." They wondered if their blood would link to Prithvi. Or were they now so far removed? ...Or would it bring them to the Shadow King?
"I would like to see that section. Perhaps there are ways to modify the outputs." Not a one-to-one duplicate, but a template with changes—like a primitive code scrawled in blood--...
Rook — 12/31/2020
"Could rewrite the journals to ensure they stay in good condition?" Or use magic, even if he didn't know of anything that increased the lives of books. "I would like that, whatever you can offer me. I can offer more than the book, too, perhaps." He had his own knowledge to add as well. "I will take your blood, yes."
If not for the spells and rituals, but incase he needed a stronger supply alongside what Maxie had given him. For more worrying injuries...like the arm, and the burns prior to it. "Sure, that works for me. But...the matter now is who gets to borrow it first after I've studied a bit?" They could 'fight' on that themselves, the vampire decided. "I could find a use for your blood as well, despite what you are."
Quinne doubted the Vaidya's blood was pure, but it was still human. While he was more eager to try blood of other supernaturals, human still appealed to him greatly. "We'll see how it goes." He agreed, looking down at the book again. "Possibly, magic can be twisted and changed to suit one's desires. You can't do this magic, but maybe you could do something with the spells and your own."
Rigby — 01/09/2021
"Rewriting them's not a bad plan!" He'd doubted he'd had the focus. He certainly didn't have the memory; some of the much, much older entries would be like looking at those of a stranger. "There's...a lot. It's complicated. But nothing I can't manage."
"Sure, that works for me. But...the matter now is who gets to borrow it first after I've studied a bit?"
The smile, the eye-spark, the I-see-what-you-did-there head-tilt and point. "Yoooou'd do that to us, Quinne~! So what you're saying is I should make room on my other shoulder for the Vaidya." Move over, Polpetto! For this book that he, clearly, was going to get first. Clearly.
He'd looked over at the Vaidya to see if the light jab landed...only to belatedly notice and do a semi-discreet double-take as he noticed that they were giving HIM a Look, too. He initially tried to ignore it and play it off with flicks of his eyes, before finally sighing in a half-laugh. "Oh, you TOO. 'Course!" Yes, you two. He's a slut for science.
"Thank you, Quinne," was more soberly delivered, then, with a warmer smile.
To the Vaidya and Quinne's comments about modifying the 'templates,' Aldo did grin. "I mean...SOMEONE had to be the first to write things down in these books. Nobody's discovered all there is to know in the world. Or with magic. Energy. Between the three of us, where we all intersect?" He shrugged - another instance of Aldo's making-giant-ideas-and-proposals-sound-casual - "We could be writing those books. If! Anything comes of it."
AJ — 01/09/2021
Quinne's suggestion sparked a memory in the Vaidya. "There is a bookbinder that lives in the mountains. A dragon," if Jax was to be believed, "who restores and preserves books. We visited him once. He is a hermit that lives only with his daughter. He could restore your notes." They assumed Aldo had a lot of them—more than he had the patience to work on them. It only came down to whether he could trust a hermit in the mountains.
They looked up at Aldo and his implications, a blank stare and a quiet, methodical twitch of their fingers in their lap, picking their nails, not quite anxious but oddly thinking, working things out... Trying to come up with a quip—a joke? Some cutting remark back at that. ...They couldn't do jokes. Maybe they didn't know where they stood enough to make one. "Oh," delayed by their thoughts, that airy voice of theirs obscured a modicum of sardonicism in their tone, so that one was hardly able to tell they weren't serious. "I am sure he intends us to fight to the death for it." There. "I will keep your head, at least, so that you may read it after." Nailed it. And then cleared their throat again at Aldo's clarification, giving a little definitive nod. Damn straight, if he was just going to go around offering his body up to the Cause.
The physician nodded to Quinne, touched their chin briefly. "I will go through my collection and bring what I can, next time." Information was disseminated across different books, but they had a penchant for banned tomes. "I would be interested to see what you did with my blood." It still likely served a rudimentary purpose, sure. They'd had theories, half-thoughts about the decay, but they'd tested barely a handful of them.
"But I will leave the pure bloodmagic to you. The alchemy interests me. That I can twist." Alchemy was an intrinsically human magic. Science. Their flickering gaze was intrigued by Aldo's prospect, and they hummed again thoughtfully. "It would be interesting to experiment, where... Our knowledges meet." And perhaps write it down. They'd never collaborated with anyone. They'd been with Jaxamir, all of these years, afterall.
Rook — 01/10/2021
"If you do fight over it, just don't drag the book into it." Quinne would've certainly set up bets between them for his own amusement, since the thought of them actually fighting for it was a good one. "I will go find this bookbinder, once I have my prosthetic arm. I feel it'd be better to have both if I'm going to go on a travel." He'd take Trapper, too, which meant setting up saddle bags and he wanted both hands for that. "How far is the ride to his house?"
Vaidya promised to spare Aldo's head, and the vampire smirked, closing the book. "A fair offering. Hopefully he gives you the same." A nod followed, both to Aldo's gratitude and following theory. "Writing further things would be a good thing to lead into, I'll have to get a new book for it." Unsurprisingly, The Vaidya wanted the alchemical texts. "Of course. I look forward to seeing what you bring me. I don't have a lot of knowledge in alchemy, so if you make anything worthwhile that I can use, I will buy them from you."
Quinne moved to stand, holding the book to his chest with his remaining arm. "I would like to be around if you both collaborate."
Rigby — 01/10/2021
Those all-familiar sparks of interest flared in the man's odd eyes, bright green on muted oxidized amber. "Hermit, huh..." It trailed into a thoughtful hum. Hermits stayed put. If there was someone else he could trust outside of his circles with the scrawling of a wild and small demon-mutt learning to be human - and learning about himself and the studies of energies and magnetics along the way...it would be a bookbinding hermit on a mountain. "You and me, Quinne! Could you introduce us, Doctor?"
The smile crinkled in his eyes at Quinne's words and the Vaidya's little semi-quip. "Fighting to the death, at least we could put each other back!" And that did tumble into a small giggle at the head-thing. He almost appeared to be readying a quip back, hand animated in several listen-here motions before letting it flutter back to his side, again.
And to Quinne, he finally grinned. "Oh you're not going anywhere - you're already in deep! We'll all see what we can find together, all right?"
AJ — 01/10/2021
They didn't expect Quinne to agree to it as well, but between Aldo and Quinne, they agreed. After a short pause to consider it, anyhow—they hadn't left that man on good terms, but they decided on a whim that they could smooth that over. "I can do that. It was about a day and a half's travel into the mountains. Shorter, I am sure, by flight—the horses had some issues with the uneven terrain." Brimstone less than Ajaa. That horse was a tank.
Aldo's quick retort got a rare odd smile, the corners of the physician's lips flipping upwards in an expression that didn't make it to the rest of their face, but held something anyhow. His finger waggle didn't help matters, the doctor quietly tapping their fingers together in their lap, but keeping that motion from transforming into something more Smarmy. It was like Neeva's mischief, but much subdued. The tiniest bit Taunting.
To Quinne: "Hm. I may. I have created some tinctures that prolong—temporarily—the need for fresh blood, but you have ample supply here. ...And I am told, although they work, they are not appetizing." And, of course, little oddities he might appreciate. "As well as my usual stock of smoke blends."
They stood with the rest of them, absent-mindedly going through the motion of brushing off their kurta. "I think that is acceptable. I am sure you could offer insight."
Rook — 01/10/2021
His eyebrows raised at the pair, but the Vaidya mentioned flight and he seemed unsure when the comments continued. "Perhaps not best to take my horse, I wouldn't want to risk him getting injured. I will, instead, go along on Wight. He's usually my choice with tougher terrain and he's a lot more hardy." And with the lack of the cryptid being the sort of mount to spook, that worked in his favour as well. "I won't be able to travel during the day, so we will need to set up camp and that will slow us down a bit." He'd rather not risk losing sleep on a longer journey.
"I have a good sized tent, though I wouldn't be able to share it." Not if Wight was going, because he too would need rest. "We're in agreement there, then. We can do some of the studying at my house, it has a decent-sized lounge. You would just be bothered by my kids on occasion, but they often go play a lot with the other kids around." Vai's offer was given a nod.
"I could use those, too, yes. It would be good for our trip to the mountains so I don't have to take any of the bloodwine with me."
Rigby — 01/30/2021
"Well, I'll be ready." Plans began to form and Aldo listened to the both of them, lips resting upon folded fingers, eyebrows raised, accentuating the both with slight nods. He'd talk it over with Lae for sure on return home.
"Think a bookbinder would survive Neeva?" Though while the idea was a smile that reached his eyes at the possibility, that was also a very serious question for Quinne - think Quinne would survive a miniature quest with Neeva? It was a polite way of addressing the unstoppable force that was their Chupakri - he would not be surprised should she pop out of their supplies, munching on the lot.
"I like your kids, good guys, all of'em. Shouldn't be a big deal. Polpetto could probably distract them for a while!"
Quinne had ended his personal Yule celebrations with a deeper sort of magic alongside Zaffre, but now he was eager to try more. The weathered book he carried was wrapped in cloth, mostly to avoid gossipers from picking up on its contents somehow by observation alone. Given the hour, he doubted there'd be many people lingering around the park, outside the pair he had mentioned the book to already. Once he got there, the vampire set the book down on one of the benches and kneeled down next to it.
Having one arm had become more frustrating to deal with, but he didn't let that annoyance show too much. The last thing he wanted was people asking questions (as if they didn't do that enough in regards to him returning with just one arm). His chest ached less, atleast. The cloth was opened up and so the book followed, as he went through some of the sanguine rituals eagerly.
Rigby — 12/27/2020
ʜᴜʟʟᴏ, ʜᴜʟʟᴏ.
As often was the case, Polpetto beat his master to their intended destination; this time, riding upon his feathery back was a small salamander, eyes luminescent, sightless and green, and limbs stitched together by a startlingly careful hand, that same green peeking out of the seams.
Aldo was close behind, this time, wearing the long green coat (which clinked faintly with the sounds of whatever may have been the mysterious interior pockets. He'd approached and perched on the edge of the bench.
"Well, what'd you end up with, here?"
Polpetto's eager little snout poked around the pages, too - nearly unseating the undead little wriggler ontop his back.
ᴡʜᴀᴛᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ?
AJ — 12/27/2020
The Vaidya was rarely in a hurry to get anywhere (except, of course, to get away from some trouble they had caused), so they lagged behind to amble with Aldo, dressed in an extra layer of long robes, red and gilded and trimmed in a bit of fur, and soft suede boots to help against the chill. Presumably they could feel it. Perhaps it was just for show. If that salamander had a twin, it wasn't immediately visible, but they had their heavy bag of Tricks and enough pockets to hide any variety of objects or beings.
They settled the bag on the other edge of the bench, so as not to encroach on his reading. Quinne's chosen position on the ground did made it very easy for them to lean right over him to peer at the pages, and they pocketed a hand that very likely wiggled with the desire to flip a page without asking. "Hm."
Rook — 12/27/2020
Polpetto was poked gently in the side, though he eyed his little passenger a moment. "Good evening." He offered to the manaraptor, but it was also directed to his owner and he looked up at him. "It was a gift from a business associate, a rather unexpected one." Quinne certainly didn't expect the man to have sent him something so useful.
"I was hoping to make use of this...portal. It will probably take me a while to master it, but it would make going back and forth to places so much easier." Quinne replied, as he moved his hand from hovering near the raptor to the page again. The Vaidya's arrival was noted as well, but he returned to staring at the book.
"...And a lot of blood."
Rigby — 12/27/2020
Quinne now had a regular audience; all present save for the undead salamander seemed to be actively at least attempting to steal some glances.
"What kinda' gift?" It was spoken in such a way that strongly implied he was already, genially shoulder-reading. "More...what's he expecting? Seems a pretty hefty gift!"
And now he blatantly was squinting at it. If the idea of the mechanics of blood magic was farily didn't quite gel entirely in his mind, presenting it as a means of bioelectricity, and the idea of following the imperceptibly small fragments of energy as they'd winked to and from other worlds had. Blood and water was conducive; flesh impeded.
"I see. I think. What are we looking at, personal, group portals? Our own blood?" There was a startling lack of horror about the later statement.
"That thing give you...practice exercises?" Before they bleed a goat over a portal summons or something!
AJ — 12/27/2020
At least the oblivious salamanders could have each other for company, as the physician's sluggishly wiggled itself out of the maze of pockets and heavy robes. Still able to cling to the outer fabric, the thing was a mashup of tiny metal pins to reset broken limbs, and a series of careful, very precise stitches, holding together wounds and channels cut alike, those weird fleshy runes that leant only temporary life. The doctor scooped it up with one hand before it could make good its escape and set it on their shoulder, where it bobbed its head and wobbled in Aldo's direction.
"For something in return, I presume." But they were unaccustomed to gifts for gift's sake, everything was for a trade, just as Quinne only wanted them here to use for whatever ritual he planned to experiment with. "Your own form of moongate." Expecting they knew where he intended to open it to—if it allowed for that, and was not merely a terrestrial construct.
Blood magic made sense to them. Even if they couldn't directly control it, the idea did: blood channeled lifeforce, channeled mana, treat it as a stream, like water, it was merely the means of mobilizing things. He had good company for body horror at least, the doctor adding no comment to the idea of donating theirs. No protest, anyhow. But a quiet snort at Aldo's last remark: they'd read enough textbooks of varying levels. "Perhaps smaller, matter-transportation, before attempting something sentient." They reached up to grab their salamander again, only to mouth a confused 'oh' when they realized it was gone. It had made the dramatic, hilarious, stilted jump to Aldo's arm in the meanwhile.
Rook — 12/27/2020
"This book, some bloodwine. I don't think they expect anything in return, but I gave them some stuff anyway." A gift for a gift. Quinne doubted the Doktor expected anything without telling him, because their business certainly included that sort of communication. "We've already made our trades recently, so I know it's not that." Atleast more business-orientated trades.
"Maybe both, I can imagine I can use it for others provided I have their blood added." He said thoughtfully, but it would be something else he'd test. With animals first, just to be safe. "I do intend to practice, I'm not going to rush into it." Quinne grumbled when they both presented the idea, as if he wasn't going to be smart about the whole thing.
"I know how to practice magic, by the way, I've been doing it for years." He glanced over the page again, but looked to the salamanders they had. "Going to start a collection?" First wings, and now critters!
Rigby — 12/27/2020
He raised both hands, revealing a salamander apiece, clinging to each. “Never implied you didn’t know! Was more so asking what else was in there! Warm up acts you could try in a park with less preparation than a portal, or any standout notes you weren’t expecting. Unless it goes from zero to world hopping! Which, ‘mean!” He bobbed his head at an angle, bit his lip. “Wouldn’t mind that!” Quinne was quite young yet, but Aldo wouldn’t outright discourage any poking into this sort of thing - especially if this was the route he wanted to go down!
He did not press what the deal with Quinne’s benefactor was, if only because the notion that this trade partner could offer any sort of deal that would shock Aldo never occurred to him. Vampires, and Quinne in particular, were privy to resources many were not.
Then he looked from salamander to salamander on each hand and grinned as each climbed to the tips of his still outstretched fingers, and he rolled his wrists for their sake. “Polpetto donations! As long as they keep coming, I’ll keep animating!”
AJ — 12/27/2020
"I assumed you already knew the book more intimately than us." But they'd still find Aldo's 'practice exercises' remark giggle-worthy. "It is an intriguing gift all the same. What else do you plan to explore from it?" It was the most polite 'I want to read your book' while keeping their hands to themself.
When he drew attention to the salamanders, their eyes drifted from the tome to the two perched on Aldo's hands, and they reached past their own to hold out a few fingers to Aldo's own creation, intending on inspecting it. "I doubt mine will remain animated for every long. I did little to preserve it. ...Although something this small is quite useful for covertness. I practiced for many years on small creatures." They hefted the little guy, turning him over to inspect Aldo's own needlework, the subtle greens of his magic. "...The bees still pose issues. And I require more wings for Neeva's mad idea." So perhaps an army of salamanders in the meantime?
Rook — 12/27/2020
"Other rituals, the basics of blood magic. I've already put a lot of work into mastering that." As expected. Quinne turned a page, running his fingers along it. "There is blood scrying, transmutation. I am...not a man of alchemy, but it offers insight into that as well." Perhaps the only sort he'd try, if only for the sake of personal healing and health. "I have already gone with the blood bonding." An act that had been with only one person and would remain that way.
"If I can make more creatures like Wight, I could use them for different means." The cryptid had taken a lot out of him, and he wasn't so sure if he wanted to keep going. "Are you still using them for that?" He asked the pair, sitting this time, since the stone on his knees didn't offer much comfort.
"More wings...I wonder where else you could get them." Quinne flipped more pages, going to transmutation. "This claims any biological matter can be transmutated from blood...I wonder if that includes your needed wings."
Rigby — 12/27/2020
"Talk to me about the bees, Doctor! I can get them kicking, but there's not much else there to work with!"
Aldo's stitched little salamander turned a jerky head towards the Vaidya's fingers, before bopping a snout on their fingers and reaching a grabby little hand (with a couple missing digits - unfortunately lost to the manaraptor's belly long before!) to cling to the human's. When they inspected it, it was a patient subject - though whether that was due to its own make or volition or Aldo imposing any sort of command was not immediately evident on inspection.
He bobbed his head again, bit his lip. "Thought about it. Should I need to be covert and Pol here just won't do. Or is too damn green!" Polpetto ruffled his feathers, crest rising but apart from a little hum, said nothing. "Maybe I could send it at one of your boss' little golems, they could tangle!" The high-strung butcher would either get hilariously upset or find it amusing, Aldo figured! "Though...I did get a new toy outside of my usual means that could help with that, too!" And Lae's gift was one of magic entirely outside of life, energy and death, and one he wanted to play with *frequently!"
"I'd like to see the alchemy pages. If you like, when you're not using it, 'course! Could give you collateral or something if you like!" One horror for another, like some morbid library rental!
"The blood would likely need a template to guide it. Kinda' like the wing-potions used what it had to work with. But...perhaps only one blood 'sample' - could get many copies or versions of a certain type of wing?" He had no idea how this magic worked! But...cloning, Aldo. You're describing cloning.
AJ — 12/28/2020
They ran a thumb over the little creature's belly, petting the undead amphibian gently. "Their exoskeleton makes my cuts difficult. Their bodies simply burst. I have to take a different approach. Perhaps a fine tool to etch into the chiton. Ah, but they are so soft..." They looked about to toddle off in their thoughts, but their eyebrows snapped upwards with their attention and they curiously leaned over Quinne again. "Transmutation? Alchemy?" Yeah, that was definitely more their area of study, and their gaze was hungry.
"I have collected many books on blood, some I am unable to utilize as I haven't the prerequisites." Life was difficult as a magicless human. Or as something that toed the line between alive and undead, and didn't quite meet the requirements to utilize abilities inherent in either. And that book they had brought with them... That had gotten them and Jaxamir running and then lost across this moongate in the first place. "If the sections are not of interest to you. I would not wish to tear apart your book." At the very least, a temporary trade.
The doctor paused. "I am unsure. If only to amuse Neeva. They are not large enough for flight on any person of our size; perhaps on something much smaller. I suppose the venture is frivolous. But an interesting study in incorporating appendages into bodies that were not intended for them." And that was half their work! "it is time consuming and wasteful to feed people those tinctures simply to harvest them..." They rubbed their mouth. "Are you aware of any large winged creatures native..." The Vaidya's voice trailed off so as not to speak over Quinne, and here they were, leaning in again—this time at so sharp an angle they had to put a hand on the bench to steady themself. "Yes, that could work. The premise makes sense. Providing both the building blocks and latent mana. Ah--" A template... "Perhaps matter from a similar creature, but that is not exact enough. Likely instructions, enscribed runically, for the blood to follow." They scanned the text over his shoulder, sleepy eyes unblinking and trained. "May we try this?"
Rook — 12/28/2020
He listened quietly to talk of the bees, though added nothing to it. Given his disinclination of their magic, he wanted to stay right out of that conversation. "That'd be interesting to see, I'll pitch the idea to him if you don't beat me to it." When asked about the alchemy, he hummed faintly. "What would you let me borrow in return?"
Quinne liked trades, but he was wary about them having the book all the same. "I want the book back intact, it was a gift and I refuse to let someone damage it." Pages and all. "What kind of books? What do they say about blood?" He went on to ask, nodding in regards to what their project was for. It was probably easy, the vampire assumed, since Neeva didn't come off a difficult creature to entertain.
"Dragons, probably gryphons." He said in a tone that was close to following up with 'good luck with those'. Perhaps it didn't need to be said. "I guess we'll figure something out."
Rigby — 12/28/2020
"I take good care of all of my books!" A gesture that indicated he could only speak for himself; Polpetto had no compunction about nesting or walking over pages, and he was absolutely certain the Vaidya would tear out half of the book for the sake of science. "It's the journals y'gotta' watch out for. Once papers get past a certain age, I stop caring and don't know how to stash'em." The Vaidya so far had been the only one aside from his very small family (and likely, one who'd given Quinne grief several years ago, now) to catch and keep glimpses of such things; some of the notes they'd received in his hand regarding his own findings had been so old as to endanger the paper itself, binding loosened, edges crumbling with severe age and faint whiffs and yellow traces of mildew on many. How long had he kept these around?
"So Quinne. If you've the faintest bit of curiosity, scientific or otherwise about..." He broadly swept to himself, then spread his hand out; himself - all of it, I have books. I have my own notes. I have experience I can put to paper, should it not've made it that far, yet." He may have opened his new journal with an entry about Thornmouth, but then had promptly cycled back to several entries before, several years before.
He'd tilted his head; a motion unconsciously mirrored by his own little undead salamander. "'Prerequisites,' Doctor?" That had piqued his interest strangely more than most of the subjects flying about them.
"For trade - Blood'd be the obvious choice, for consumption or...trying out anything in here." He flicked the book lightly with a backward rap of his knuckles. "You keep it, obviously; I don't want it back once it's out of me.
"Electricity, the energy in life, the movement that animates biological material itself...does not necessarily need to apply to anything about the dead." As if catching Quinne's drift, or simply reading the room enough to be aware of his company. "I've got plenty regarding that if necromancy isn't up your alley. Nothing much enlightening about blood magic, but perhaps depending on what you choose, a deeper understanding of why it works, and how it ties into the...whole. The big picture, the Great Work." Trust Aldo to make rather large concepts sound so casual, on the level of discussing the herb in his pipe.
"If you DO jump right into portals, be cautious with mine. 'Cos you're getting that blood." He did not elaborate, though the tone briefly lapsed into something darker than his usual. But he did snort at the mention of dragons and gryphons. "Sure!" He'd not seen anything wrong with that. "Provided the matter's willing, it's not as if we have any shortage of the former." Sorry, Most- Of-Ev's-Family. Except the kids, nobody was touching the kids. The dragoness might have been intimidating to him, but from what few glimpses he saw of her proper, he could strangely see her pitching herself into some soup - if she could stick around and dutifully record whatever resulted. He'd shrugged, otherwise. "Could catch you something, too."
AJ — 12/30/2020
"I would not damage it." Although they didn't defend themself against Aldo's subtle implication. They did have that habit—but they intended to return the book to Quinne, and to maintain at least an amicable relationship with him; it would not serve to disrespect a loaned item like that. The Vaidya looked from Quinne to Aldo when they both asked. "Some describe blood magics, uses, and manascience theories on it. But I am unable to manipulate blood directly, in the manner Quinne can. They are interesting, but not practical for me at this moment." Their end-tone implying that they would be in the future, if they ever gained that kind of ability—somehow. "I will go through my archives and bring some scrolls and books for you to inspect." Besides, if he did end up trading only with Aldo—no doubt the physician would snoop over his shoulder.
Of course—no amount of books could really hold a candle to Aldo trading himself. The good doctor was perhaps a bit envious. Jealous? They were not nearly as interesting a subject. Their faint, judgemental squint was a resoundingly unspoken 'you slut'. "I am human enough, I do not think you could glean anything from my blood." Although—"Perhaps the nature of my decay, however that information is likely of more use to me than it is to you. But you are welcome to try." They wondered if their blood would link to Prithvi. Or were they now so far removed? ...Or would it bring them to the Shadow King?
"I would like to see that section. Perhaps there are ways to modify the outputs." Not a one-to-one duplicate, but a template with changes—like a primitive code scrawled in blood--...
Rook — 12/31/2020
"Could rewrite the journals to ensure they stay in good condition?" Or use magic, even if he didn't know of anything that increased the lives of books. "I would like that, whatever you can offer me. I can offer more than the book, too, perhaps." He had his own knowledge to add as well. "I will take your blood, yes."
If not for the spells and rituals, but incase he needed a stronger supply alongside what Maxie had given him. For more worrying injuries...like the arm, and the burns prior to it. "Sure, that works for me. But...the matter now is who gets to borrow it first after I've studied a bit?" They could 'fight' on that themselves, the vampire decided. "I could find a use for your blood as well, despite what you are."
Quinne doubted the Vaidya's blood was pure, but it was still human. While he was more eager to try blood of other supernaturals, human still appealed to him greatly. "We'll see how it goes." He agreed, looking down at the book again. "Possibly, magic can be twisted and changed to suit one's desires. You can't do this magic, but maybe you could do something with the spells and your own."
Rigby — 01/09/2021
"Rewriting them's not a bad plan!" He'd doubted he'd had the focus. He certainly didn't have the memory; some of the much, much older entries would be like looking at those of a stranger. "There's...a lot. It's complicated. But nothing I can't manage."
"Sure, that works for me. But...the matter now is who gets to borrow it first after I've studied a bit?"
The smile, the eye-spark, the I-see-what-you-did-there head-tilt and point. "Yoooou'd do that to us, Quinne~! So what you're saying is I should make room on my other shoulder for the Vaidya." Move over, Polpetto! For this book that he, clearly, was going to get first. Clearly.
He'd looked over at the Vaidya to see if the light jab landed...only to belatedly notice and do a semi-discreet double-take as he noticed that they were giving HIM a Look, too. He initially tried to ignore it and play it off with flicks of his eyes, before finally sighing in a half-laugh. "Oh, you TOO. 'Course!" Yes, you two. He's a slut for science.
"Thank you, Quinne," was more soberly delivered, then, with a warmer smile.
To the Vaidya and Quinne's comments about modifying the 'templates,' Aldo did grin. "I mean...SOMEONE had to be the first to write things down in these books. Nobody's discovered all there is to know in the world. Or with magic. Energy. Between the three of us, where we all intersect?" He shrugged - another instance of Aldo's making-giant-ideas-and-proposals-sound-casual - "We could be writing those books. If! Anything comes of it."
AJ — 01/09/2021
Quinne's suggestion sparked a memory in the Vaidya. "There is a bookbinder that lives in the mountains. A dragon," if Jax was to be believed, "who restores and preserves books. We visited him once. He is a hermit that lives only with his daughter. He could restore your notes." They assumed Aldo had a lot of them—more than he had the patience to work on them. It only came down to whether he could trust a hermit in the mountains.
They looked up at Aldo and his implications, a blank stare and a quiet, methodical twitch of their fingers in their lap, picking their nails, not quite anxious but oddly thinking, working things out... Trying to come up with a quip—a joke? Some cutting remark back at that. ...They couldn't do jokes. Maybe they didn't know where they stood enough to make one. "Oh," delayed by their thoughts, that airy voice of theirs obscured a modicum of sardonicism in their tone, so that one was hardly able to tell they weren't serious. "I am sure he intends us to fight to the death for it." There. "I will keep your head, at least, so that you may read it after." Nailed it. And then cleared their throat again at Aldo's clarification, giving a little definitive nod. Damn straight, if he was just going to go around offering his body up to the Cause.
The physician nodded to Quinne, touched their chin briefly. "I will go through my collection and bring what I can, next time." Information was disseminated across different books, but they had a penchant for banned tomes. "I would be interested to see what you did with my blood." It still likely served a rudimentary purpose, sure. They'd had theories, half-thoughts about the decay, but they'd tested barely a handful of them.
"But I will leave the pure bloodmagic to you. The alchemy interests me. That I can twist." Alchemy was an intrinsically human magic. Science. Their flickering gaze was intrigued by Aldo's prospect, and they hummed again thoughtfully. "It would be interesting to experiment, where... Our knowledges meet." And perhaps write it down. They'd never collaborated with anyone. They'd been with Jaxamir, all of these years, afterall.
Rook — 01/10/2021
"If you do fight over it, just don't drag the book into it." Quinne would've certainly set up bets between them for his own amusement, since the thought of them actually fighting for it was a good one. "I will go find this bookbinder, once I have my prosthetic arm. I feel it'd be better to have both if I'm going to go on a travel." He'd take Trapper, too, which meant setting up saddle bags and he wanted both hands for that. "How far is the ride to his house?"
Vaidya promised to spare Aldo's head, and the vampire smirked, closing the book. "A fair offering. Hopefully he gives you the same." A nod followed, both to Aldo's gratitude and following theory. "Writing further things would be a good thing to lead into, I'll have to get a new book for it." Unsurprisingly, The Vaidya wanted the alchemical texts. "Of course. I look forward to seeing what you bring me. I don't have a lot of knowledge in alchemy, so if you make anything worthwhile that I can use, I will buy them from you."
Quinne moved to stand, holding the book to his chest with his remaining arm. "I would like to be around if you both collaborate."
Rigby — 01/10/2021
Those all-familiar sparks of interest flared in the man's odd eyes, bright green on muted oxidized amber. "Hermit, huh..." It trailed into a thoughtful hum. Hermits stayed put. If there was someone else he could trust outside of his circles with the scrawling of a wild and small demon-mutt learning to be human - and learning about himself and the studies of energies and magnetics along the way...it would be a bookbinding hermit on a mountain. "You and me, Quinne! Could you introduce us, Doctor?"
The smile crinkled in his eyes at Quinne's words and the Vaidya's little semi-quip. "Fighting to the death, at least we could put each other back!" And that did tumble into a small giggle at the head-thing. He almost appeared to be readying a quip back, hand animated in several listen-here motions before letting it flutter back to his side, again.
And to Quinne, he finally grinned. "Oh you're not going anywhere - you're already in deep! We'll all see what we can find together, all right?"
AJ — 01/10/2021
They didn't expect Quinne to agree to it as well, but between Aldo and Quinne, they agreed. After a short pause to consider it, anyhow—they hadn't left that man on good terms, but they decided on a whim that they could smooth that over. "I can do that. It was about a day and a half's travel into the mountains. Shorter, I am sure, by flight—the horses had some issues with the uneven terrain." Brimstone less than Ajaa. That horse was a tank.
Aldo's quick retort got a rare odd smile, the corners of the physician's lips flipping upwards in an expression that didn't make it to the rest of their face, but held something anyhow. His finger waggle didn't help matters, the doctor quietly tapping their fingers together in their lap, but keeping that motion from transforming into something more Smarmy. It was like Neeva's mischief, but much subdued. The tiniest bit Taunting.
To Quinne: "Hm. I may. I have created some tinctures that prolong—temporarily—the need for fresh blood, but you have ample supply here. ...And I am told, although they work, they are not appetizing." And, of course, little oddities he might appreciate. "As well as my usual stock of smoke blends."
They stood with the rest of them, absent-mindedly going through the motion of brushing off their kurta. "I think that is acceptable. I am sure you could offer insight."
Rook — 01/10/2021
His eyebrows raised at the pair, but the Vaidya mentioned flight and he seemed unsure when the comments continued. "Perhaps not best to take my horse, I wouldn't want to risk him getting injured. I will, instead, go along on Wight. He's usually my choice with tougher terrain and he's a lot more hardy." And with the lack of the cryptid being the sort of mount to spook, that worked in his favour as well. "I won't be able to travel during the day, so we will need to set up camp and that will slow us down a bit." He'd rather not risk losing sleep on a longer journey.
"I have a good sized tent, though I wouldn't be able to share it." Not if Wight was going, because he too would need rest. "We're in agreement there, then. We can do some of the studying at my house, it has a decent-sized lounge. You would just be bothered by my kids on occasion, but they often go play a lot with the other kids around." Vai's offer was given a nod.
"I could use those, too, yes. It would be good for our trip to the mountains so I don't have to take any of the bloodwine with me."
Rigby — 01/30/2021
"Well, I'll be ready." Plans began to form and Aldo listened to the both of them, lips resting upon folded fingers, eyebrows raised, accentuating the both with slight nods. He'd talk it over with Lae for sure on return home.
"Think a bookbinder would survive Neeva?" Though while the idea was a smile that reached his eyes at the possibility, that was also a very serious question for Quinne - think Quinne would survive a miniature quest with Neeva? It was a polite way of addressing the unstoppable force that was their Chupakri - he would not be surprised should she pop out of their supplies, munching on the lot.
"I like your kids, good guys, all of'em. Shouldn't be a big deal. Polpetto could probably distract them for a while!"
