Log: Questions (Geddoe)

[flamesandfeathers]

[With a sigh Hugo stops before Geddoe's door in the Ship. It had been some time since he had been in the ship, and it was trip down memory lane, except without the familiar faces. No Muto, no Landis. He wondered where they had gone, and felt like the sensation was one he would have to get used to. Steeling himself for the conversation he really didn't want to have, but needed to he raised his fist to the door and knocked.]

Geddoe, are you in?

Comments

[trueltning_fury]

[At the moment, he is, sitting at the table in the center of the room cleaning and inspecting his sword. At the knock, Geddoe sets everything aside and goes to open the door.]

Hugo. This is a surprise.

[he edges to one side, silently inviting the kid in]

[flamesandfeathers]

Sorry to bother you, but I have some questions. [Walks inside and looks around.] Sometimes it feels like we haven't left.

[trueltning_fury]

[true, there are still empty booze bottles littering the corner of the room. Geddoe has, at least, swept them off the table and kicked them away from his cot.]

It's all right. I'm not doing anything of great importance at the moment.

[he heaves himself back into his chair] ...what do you want to ask about?

[flamesandfeathers]

To be honest, a lot of things. But most of them are probably too personal, but you're the only other person I know who has [waves his right hand in the air] one of these.

[takes a breath] Before he died, Luc mentioned having visions of a world where absolute order had taken over. It was… horrible. I was wondering if True Lightning has ever shown you something like that? I'm pretty sure Luc said True Wind showed him those visions.

[trueltning_fury]

[oh, sure, go right for the tough questions, Hugo.

Geddoe takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before answering.]

Yeah. I've seen that world. True Lightning is no different from the others, it does its best to show me all kinds of visions.

[flamesandfeathers]

True Fire hasn't shown me anything like that. Not yet anyways. [Looks down at his Rune] Sometimes though, if I just stand still, I can feel the world around me moving forward. Without me.

[trueltning_fury]

No? [interesting. But he has had his rune for a lot longer]

That's a start. That's the thing you have to steel yourself against. There's no way to stop the Rune from trying to influence you, but you can stop yourself from listening to it.

[flamesandfeathers]

Not yet. But I have an a bad feeling about all the True Runes here.

Mostly I've been keeping myself busy. If I just keep moving, keep focusing on something else I'm good.

[trueltning_fury]

Mmm. [so does he. He's still working out which ones are all here.]

That's one way. But you don't want to completely ignore it. Its temptation will get stronger and stronger...and that, I think, is how Luc ended up where he did. True Wind eventually became so noisy that instead of shutting it out, he listened to it.

[flamesandfeathers]

All the Elements are here now. Plus Sierra has Blue Moon, if I remember correctly. That's six that I know of.

That makes sense. Any tips to know when I should listen?

[trueltning_fury]

I think there's another. I've felt the pull, but I don't know who or what it is.

[he hasn't been near Tir enough to realize]

That...is something you'll have to figure out for yourself, unfortunately. It takes time just to be able to develop the right relationship with the Rune, to separate its voice from yours. Eventually, you'll be able to tell when it's trying to push, and that you should push back.

[flamesandfeathers]

Hopefully it's a nice True Rune. But, yeah. I think I felt something like that too. [Not as strong as he was right next to Tir and didn't notice, but there was a change in the air for him]

[Nods at Geddoe's words, mulling them over in his head]

Do you mind if I ask another question?

[trueltning_fury]

Go ahead. [after all, Hugo's right - who else has as much experience bearing a True Rune as he does? Nobody, that's who.]

[flamesandfeathers]

What was the first Flame Champion like?

[trueltning_fury]

[...oh, snap.

He actually smiles, a little tiny bit. Blink and you'll miss it.]

He was far more of a hero than I, even though both of us started out as bandits. He was quicker to rise to the level of protector, when Harmonia invaded. But he didn't like being a hero, because so much was expected of him. He wasn't allowed to be selfish, and consider his own needs ahead of those of the Grasslands.

[he sighs, then] ...not even by me.

[flamesandfeathers]

Sounds like a great guy. [smiles a bit before becoming serious again]

... I hate to ask, but I need to know. It's been bothering me lately.

How did he loose control of the Rune?

[trueltning_fury]

[he rubs his face a bit as he reaches into his memory, even though that day will never leave his mind]

We met the Harmonian army in the open lands between Karaya and Duck Village. The battle took place in a low valley, rather like a large bowl in the grassland. It was one of the fiercest in the war, both sides were taking heavy casualties.

I didn't actually see what happened. I was on one slope with my unit, launching lightning attacks into the enemy's flank to try to push through to reach him. Wyatt was on the far side. Our friend was down in the center of the valley, completely surrounded. I saw him from a distance, activating the Rune, and I assumed he was using one of its most powerful spells. But the flames didn't dissipate, instead they grew larger and larger, out of control. I barely had time to call a retreat, and even I had to run for my life. No one in the center survived, except for him.

He wouldn't explain in detail, later, but it sounded like he had been at his lowest desperation. It's possible he had been completely surrounded by Harmonians and afraid for his own life. I would imagine the Rune would not want to let its bearer die, it might have raged as a result.

[flamesandfeathers]

[looks down at True Fire while Geddoe talks]

They can do that huh?

[takes a breath] Well, it's good to know it was such desperate circumstances.

Another question? This one might be too personal though.

[trueltning_fury]

[and that one wasn't? That was painful, Hugo.]

They can. Given the choice between losing control of a spell and having the thing incarnate like True Wind? I think I would choose the first.

[sigh] ...very well, but I reserve the right to not answer if it's that bad.

[flamesandfeathers]

[embarrassing topic time!] How do you deal with relationships with the whole not aging thing?

[trueltning_fury]

[the deadest of deadpan looks] ...I don't.

Unless you mean to include friendships. That's trickier.

[flamesandfeathers]

Oh. [disappointed because he wants to date in the future and wants advice]

Friendships are trickier?

[trueltning_fury]

[oh Hugo. Welcome to Geddoe's more or less celibate life]

It's impossible to go through life not making friends, so unlike certain relationships, you can't really choose not to. In that sense, it's best not to dwell constantly on thoughts you'll outlive anyone.

[flamesandfeathers]

I guess I never thought of it that before.

[trueltning_fury]

You've only had it about a year. It will take time before you start to notice such things. For now, just live your life. Enjoy it. Particularly if the Rune isn't bothering you much.

[flamesandfeathers]

Okay. I think I can do that.

One last question, and I swear I'm done!

Do you think studying magic might help understand the Rune?

[trueltning_fury]

[he huffs a small chuckle. Why so cute, Hugo? Enthusiasm is good.]

Regular magic, probably not. But Jeane is here, and she seems to be a real rune scholar. She would know enough about True Runes to be of help.

[flamesandfeathers]

I already asked Jeane, and she doesn't really know all that much more. But she did give me some advice that I'm going to follow.

[trueltning_fury]

Oh? Well, that's something, I suppose. There is much you can't learn from another scholar or even Runebearer - each Rune has its own mind, they don't always behave the same.

[flamesandfeathers]

[nods and yawns]

Okay, well thanks for answering my questions. I should get going.

[trueltning_fury]

...oh. All right, then.

[he's not polite enough to bother getting up and opening the door for Hugo. They're pals, he can open doors for himself.]

I don't mind the questions. If you have more, in the future, you know where to find me.

[flamesandfeathers]

[Makes his way to the door]

Good night, thanks again.