11/24: Symbolism

[02:54] One pat, twice, and thrice against the pocket where the mushroom sat within occurred before another nod and wider grin are offered. Despite Astrid's appearance she wouldn't be against assistance of Indra however she may need it. Although it wasn't voiced, that's what reverberated in the kitsune's head.

"I'll try not to be," Astrid responds lightly. "And-" A light huffed laugh protrudes from partially opened lips of a raspy breath. "I'll help you however I can." Perhaps when she was in a better condition rather than her malnourished and thin form. In time, however!
(Astrid)
[03:00] Indra smiled again and gave a single huff of a chuckle at Astrid's words. She wasn't sure how she could help, but it was nice to hear.

"Thanks. Maybe I can think of something for you to help with."
She said with her fingers on her own chin, looking into the distance at nothing in particular.
(Indranil Vihreä)
[03:01] Boots press into grounds underneath, leaving just the faintest trail behind as he'd gingerly walk past. Slums had always been an... odd visit, though nothing negative nonetheless, even if his own brother generally avoided the spot for one reason or the other.

Not that it mattered.

Allowing the quiet winds to breeze past, slightly tousling those soft, snow strands all the while, Nero merely plops down onto one of the flipped crates over to the side, hands pressed against the wooden surface as sport amidst how he'd lean back, a leg idly crossed over the other. Hums every now and then aside, those eyes merely only glanced along, from the spars to usual chitter-chatter.

A certain talk regarding mushrooms did garner a few blinks, however. He'd quietly watch, but the young magus did allow his lips to part after a while.

"...shouldn't just gulp 'shrooms like that."

Murmured with a light flick of fingers, and a single bubble, albeit bit cold, is allowed to trail through the air, before popping just a few inches away from the duo.

"Said ya' don't know what kind it is. What if it's really bad? Godspeed on a journey to sickness."
(Nero)
[03:08] Gifting Indra with more mushrooms seemed like an ideal way to help her given that was the topic of conversation. Most of the kitsune's thoughts spaced her away from conversation. Idle comments now amidst how she day-dreams briefly about consuming more food- real meals. They weren't anything she'd been used to, lacking something full and delicious for months which could properly explain her disgusting appearance, pale complexion, and thinned body.

"However I can," Astrid responds. Though, another's voice calls out which snaps her from that spaced out disposition, allowing the kitsune to stride forward slowly around the empty stall towards Nero after the popping bubble prompts a jumped back response from Astrid.

"...I think that's okay," the kitsune responds. She'd been starving, stuck with a lack of nutrients. You could say she was already sick, so to her it mattered not anything more if it meant she had something inher stomach that wasn't twigs, leaves, and stolen crops.

"It's food, so I'll eat it," she pathetically responds. An unconscious step forward is made as she aims to get closer to ensure he'd hear her from that distance. "There isn't much I get to eat anyways," she adds again with a few cracks between words of her raspy voice.
(Astrid)
[03:12] Arelias would chew slowly on his assortment of mushrooms AND pork from his recent hunt. After deciding to finally leave the woods and go check out more civilized places, perhaps he'd learn a bit more about people after his little run in with that bandit from earlier who took all of his food and even his shoes.

He'd hear people converse about mushrooms and if of course piqued his interest as his first friend Lukas told him about how he should go about to making the mushrooms taste better than it's usual bland taste that he was used to but he didn't have any need to intrude on anyone's conversation as he simply continued his chewing, although seeing Lukas here moments ago was a surprise for him, he didn't think he'd see them around anytime soon.

He'd simply sit on this wooden crate as he observed the people doing their things so he can get a better grasp on the more social individuals rather than a dumbass such as himself.
(Arelias)
[03:15] Indranil didn't know what she could have Astrid do for her at the moment. The hand on her chin was almost more of pretending she was thinking of something instead of actually doing so.

"You can?"
She asked, but right then she either heard or felt what could have been a bubble right by them. Her arm quickly raised as if to defend herself, but that was unnecessary. The arm went back down, and she turned around to the boy Astrid had just walked towards, probably the culprit of the bubble, and whom said they shouldn't eat the "shrooms".

Indra too stepped closer to him, and gave him a response as well,
"I said I didn't know what it's called, but I know it's one I can eat."
(Indranil Vihreä)
[03:22] Arelias could only overhear the many conversations as his chewing slowed before simply swallowing what he had been chewing on. The conversation between the three about the shrooms and foods in general clearly was attracting his attention considering that's probably the only thing he'd know how to talk about at a very, very, basic level. So he couldn't help but involve himself in this conversation at all. He'd push himself off of the crate and walked over to the group.

"You speak bout shrooms but ya can jus hunt meat like I do ya know since it taste better than shrooms, had shrooms for long time."

(Arelias)
[03:29] "That's messed up."

Bit of an immediate response as he'd slowly pull himself back up, hands clasped behind his back as the boy takes a few, smaller steps towards the Kitsune there, squinting ever so slightly.

"You don't just eat anything you can put in your mouth as long as it doesn't taste like dirt. And even if the one tossing you stuff says that they know for sure it's safe, you just don't trust 'em and gulp it down."

A bit of pause, and as a single hand is lifted upward if only to point towards Astrid, his finger comes to a halt a good few inches away from her forehead.

"-being gullible 'ere gets you screwed, don't you know?"

With that, he'd finally shift his weight over to the side, blinking a couple different times at Indra's words. There's no immediate response, but the boy did bring that same finger to his own chin, tapping for a bit, before he'd simply shrug.

"That's fair on your side, at least. Though that one said-" a brief glance in Arelias' direction. "-hunting animals is better, anyway... kinda."
(Nero)
[03:30] Arelias says, "Well, yea' fills better than nuttin but shrooms."
[03:30] Arelias says, "I eat dem sometimes tho."
[03:40] 'That's messed up.' It prompts her only perked ear to shift and flatten against Astrid's matted down hair. If only he'd ever been in her position, then he may come to understand why she'd so easily, desperately, accepted that food item.

Her silver eyes cross a bit when she stares at the pointing finger. Her head reels back some away from this stranger's accusation. Though, Astrid is silent for the moment, pondering her words carefully in order for them to make sense. With a bit of struggle, spacing out here and there for minor increments at a time, she finally speaks with recollected words that made sense in her head;

"A lot of us go hungry here. I..-" Astrid glances to Indra momentarily, averting her gaze back to Nero after a pause. "I can trust her, and eat it confidently. Not just anyone would, you know.. give their food to someone when most of us starve," the girl replies truthfully. Her loudly growling stomach prompts a frown.

"Besides.." Whispered words find themselves trailing off as the kitsune glances back towards Arelias, then again back to Nero. "...I don't know how to hunt." A pause.

"..I don't go out of Sudbury." Perhaps.. "..I'd get lost." She couldn't, could she? "Would you mind-" The girl pauses abruptly as her mien grows downcast. Another huffed laughter, almost a nervous gesture, protrudes as her head shakes. "Erm.. it's ok. I'll be fine," she responds again with a nod. She wouldn't dare ask her firstly thought inquiry.
(Astrid)
[03:50] Arelias listened carefully to the words of Astrid, going hungry in a place like this was surely no good, just going hungry in general wasn't something great. Even Arelias knew what it was like to go hungry, like those times where he'd run low on even his mushrooms.

But this teen from the woods could clearly empathize with them to a certain degree although he didn't know a few of the words that she had said but he got a general idea even though he was what people would call either a dumbass or an airhead. He'd rustle through his brown raggedy pouch and pulled out a piece of pork that he was saving for a later snack and simply held it out as an offering to Astrid. Last time he tried that he got mugged but perhaps this would be different, who knows.

"Meat?"

He'd say as he somehow was chewing another shroom in his mouth.
(Arelias)
[03:52] * You have been awarded 3 Roleplay Points! *
[03:55] Astrid shakes her head, declining the meat offered. "Save what you can for yourself." The girl nods gingerly, giving back her attention towards Nero and Indra.
(Astrid)
[03:56] Indranil squinted with a bit of a glare at the finger being pointed at Astrid's forehead, watching for any magic or something to come from it that might harm the girl. Not that she could do much if the boy was a lunatic that wanted to punish Astrid, but Indra might at least yell at him, or something..

Luckily he wasn't a stupid lunatic, so Indra's face softened back to a rather neutral expression.

She had a bit of what she might say, but she waited for Astrid to finish first. Once she did, Indra looked at the ground in front of them all as she responded,
"Hunting is hard, and dangerous, and you also should know how to cook, and if you cook it here it might be stolen. Lots of reasons not to hunt."
Trying to defend her own and Astrid's choice to eat mushrooms.
"He's right though. I think I could have poisoned her easily, but just looking at her I could tell there was no reason to. No reason tofor most people down here."
At least she couldn't come up with a reason at the moment.
(Indranil Vihreä)
[04:09] "Half the folks don't even know what they're eating themselves, let alone feeding others... even if she-" pausing for just a moment, he'd idly gesture his head in Indira's direction, before continuing.

"-ended up knowing just enough, doesn't mean it's the same for all. Relyin' on people or jus' going with whatever they toss at you is bad. No reason to poison though, yeah... unless people wanna mug for clothes, I guess."

With that, he'd finally allow himself to lean back, with his heel coming to a rest again that very crate for support. No voice follows suit for a bit more, but the Kitsune's last few words did garner A couple blinks. He'd wait a few seconds before adding to it.

"...show you around or something? Sure, but... that wouldn't help you hunt or anything. It's like she said- it's hard and dangerous. And having good food will prob' give half the assholes around a reason to mug you. Are you any good at anything? Like, I'unno... swords, like your friend over there? Axes?"


Coming to a brief halt there, the white haired boy allows his hand to lift upward yet once again- a slow and soft motion all the while, but there's a way yet another bubble slowly expands outward, larger and larger, until it's only a few inches away from touching those around him. Even so, they could likely feel a slightly colder air about it, much akin to most wintry nights of Esshar.

"Magic?"
(Nero)
[04:17] "Um-" To Indra's words, Astrid gives a glance. Dull in expression. She'd never bothered to believe someone could poison the girl. Pity feeding? Sure, though causing her to grow sick and perish? That never crossed the girl's mind. Hearing the other teen speak about the possibility of such an action left her with an unsettled feeling. That changed her expression, no, but her attention paid now back to Nero. A rough sigh protrudes again.

"She's right," Astrid responds. There wasn't any reason to harm one another, save for mugging for what Nero's made mention of. Stealing another's clothes or their supply. Perhaps Astrid's malnourished form may have made her an easy target- she possessed no magical capabilities thus far, so she shook her head in reply to the other white haired magi's inquiry.

"No," she whispers. "But.. showing around?" She questions softly, slowly raising a hand to rub at her throat as if it would make a difference in the struggling tone of her speech. "Well.. sure," she says. That wasn't the question she was going to make previously, but she wouldn't deny an adventure. Maybe she could end up learning a thing or two along the way that could help Indra for her kindness.

"But I'm not good at anything." It was why she ended up so homeless, parentless, guideless, and slowly dying throughout time on her lonesome. When Astrid glances up to stare at Nero through the bubble. her hand reaches out. A chipped nail opts to enter and hopefully pop the chilled asset.

"Not even magic."
(Astrid)
[04:24] "Ah, yeah, for clothes, or money, or jewelry, or..."
Her words trailed off as she tried to think of more reasons she could poison and mug someone- not that she would, totally not.

She shook her head from those thoughts, then looked at Astrid and waited the moment for her answer to the boy's offer to show her around. Indranil looked at Nero as well and gave him a nod as if he was asking her as well, then set her eyes on the huge bubble in front of them.

"No magic here either."
(Indranil Vihreä)
[04:39] An abrupt blink amidst how his eyes close shut as that bubble is popped by the Kitsune, allowing countless, chilled droplets to scatter about, even if they were faint.

"Ah?"

It's finally murmured as the white haired boy shakes his head from one side to the other, aiming to get what little water off of his head before he'd continue.

"What were you ask for, then?"

There's another, slower pause which he'd use to take a single step back, leaning further against the wooden crate there. A digit is allowed to trail along the side of his own features, however, all the way until it finds those snow strands, just idly fiddling about as eyes wander back and forth between the two.

"...hard for regular folks, but one of you have a sword, so..." the other, free palm is now stretched outward just slightly, and after a moment's delay, a bit of outline was visible for anyone looking for it. Just a faint shroud of visible mana coating all the way from his fingers, to his forearm. Light and strange, but such was common, and an easy task for anyone attuned to their circuitry, even if they didn't particularly know how to perform magic.

"...mana, right? Can either of you do this? Wouldn't be hard to learn magic if your circuits aren't... dormant's the right word, I guess. Or whatever brother calls it."

(Nero)
[04:48] The list of reasons for why another could be mugged was not acknowledged in the slightest. The silver eyed teenager kept her stare amongst the figure of Nero whom leaned back further.

This had been the first she'd conversated more with someone who could be considerably noble, or a Knight that 'offered' a lesson with magics and mana.

Her eyes glance down by some point, unconsciously, to spectate the illumination surrounding his arm of mana. From Nero's fingers do her eyes trail along the palm and forearm with bugged eyes.

Her own dirt caked arms outstretched, shaking while out in the open from her weakened status. Below the confines of filth was a pale complexion hidden away- perhaps tanned in its current presence, yet should any opt to wash even the slightest bit of dirt away from Astrid's flesh they'd find skin many shades brighter.

Though, nothing happens with her own outstretched hand. No spiritual essence envelops it like Nero's. "I don't think I can do that," she quietly states, ignoring his previous question about what she wanted to ask.

Her eyes close, however, as she tries to imagine some way to summon this mana he speaks of. The kitsune's eyes shut tightly, visibly, as if focusing too hard on conjuring any magical capabilities.. and still nothing occurs. In a short time from when she started the girl gives up. She wasn't a hopeful individual since her parents left her months ago, failing to return as they said they would.

"Nothing still," she says, quieter and full of doubt of her capacity for ability learning.
(Astrid)
[05:08] Indra's eyes squinted to lessen the chance of water getting in her eyes when the bubble was popped. Luckily none did, she didn't want water in her eyes. A small chuckle was made though as she felt it sprinkle her face.

After that second of joy was had, she wiped her face with the sleeve of her jacket, and watched as the boy made some motions that were a bit odd to her, but then his arm outstretched and it seemed like there was a faint glowy mist around it.

"This what we're doing now?"
She said, thinking they were about to be off the explore the slums. No matter though, as it appeared Astrid didn't know how to control mana, so maybe they could help her.

"Yeah, I can do this too."

Indra halfway outstretched her own arm. Most of it was covered by her jacket that seemed a bit too big for her, but her hand was easily seen. She focused her mana more inside her hand than outwards like Nero, and after a moment theskin on her hand rapidly grew shiny, mildly reflective green scales, a leathery bright yellow palm-side, and claws taking the place of the last joint in each of her fingers.

She clacked two of the claws together as she looked between them for their reaction.
(Indranil Vihreä)
[05:27] When no hint of any spiritual pressure embraces Astrid, he'd only hum ever so slightly, though features blank otherwise. No immediate response escapes, but the boy's eyes do drift over, towards Vihreä.

A shift, the presence of mana from within-- and then a little something that even he couldn't do, and would probably never be able to if they were what he thought of them as- something simply not in his blood. Lips curl a bit into just the quietest grin before the boy takes a couple steps towards her, taking a closer look at the scaled hands.

"Dragon scales? Claws! You're one of the Drakanite, right? Pretty strange that you can't use magic just yet... you guys are usually so good with flames and all, no? But-"

Curious hues drifted over to the corners of his eyes, finding the Kitsune yet once again as he continues.

"-well... mages are rare. Not being able to control mana at all either means you don't have what it takes-" bluntly put, much like most other things. He never really sugarcoated stuff, yet... "-or... well, late bloomers do exist at times. Tell you what? When brother taught me, he'd always say how mana responds best to emotions- like a trigger. Anyone, or anything that you love a lot, wanting to protect it and whatnot? Or-"

A softer pause. Much like what his sibling taught him-

"-anyone you hate with a passion. Either or, doesn't matter... maybe try again, but let the feelings guide you a bit? Trying to control it so you can protect-- care for someone. Or trying to make use of it to really get back at those you despise. Must be at least something for either, right?"
(Nero)
[05:36] An envious demeanor is made, shifting about along the way the girl's body language speaks as she glances towards Indra's abilities in silence. Eyes drift away when addressed by Nero. Astrid hadn't yet the capacity for magical abilities, or her mana hadn't awakened within her dormant circuits.

Regardless, her silver eyes find themselves staring intently at Nero as she ponders his question in silence. Deep down she believed she had what it took to become a mage if she put in the proper effort, yet..

Who did she love that she could protect? None- her head shook. Parental guidance had been absent for months. Astrid had lost track of time thus far, losing them just before turning fourteen years old some time ago.

But someone she loathed immensely? The kitsune is hesitant, but she responds with a slow, nearly unmoved nod of her head. There was someone, or a populace, in fact, that she did not openly speak of for various reasons.

"Just the latter," she utters out in her raspy voice. Again her eyes trail away towards the scaled hand of Indra's, but nothing's felt towards the party of individuals she felt distaste for- her eyes gaze away again towards Nero.

Her arms are glanced to then after a short moment of staring, opting to feel the hatred within be born and activate any bit of circuits to awaken them from a dormant state, and yet there's still nothing present when she finds herself under a more focused stance. Nothing happens. It wasn't potent enough, especially because that hatred was subsiding, to a degree, given this other teenager was before her, helping her- someone she believed to be of the individuals she found herself despising as of late ever since her family disappeared.

Astrid shook her head. "I don't feel it enough."
(Astrid)
[05:48] Indranil chuckled and nodded,
"Yup! I'm a drakanite. I think I can use magic, I just... don't know what to do with it, and... I don't know how to do more with it."

As the topic focus was on Astrid now, Indra stared at her own dragon hand. She brought it closer to herself, then brought her other hand up to feel her fingers against her own scaled hand. It felt nice, and was a little something to do while the other two talked.

She took in what they were saying. Emotion to control your mana? That sounded like it could be dangerous, especially if the emotions were negative. Even as someone who has so much she's lost and often has negative thoughts can figure that.

Indra froze in thought for a moment, thinking of what the heck Astrid meant by 'latter'. So after Astrid had tried to use magic again, Indra looked at her,
"You have strong emotions about a ladder?"
(Indranil Vihreä)
[05:49] Astrid says, "Oh, no. Emotions about something, or someone, that I don't like."
[05:54] Indranil Vihreä asks, "...No ladder?"
[06:02] Mention of the latter had him perk up for just a moment, a curious little hum escaping past as the boy idly rocks back and forth, merely watching her attempt-- yet, nothing this time around, as well. Bit bummed for a moment there, but he'd simply tilt his head over to the side.

Maybe just not cut for it, but... the thought of not feeling 'it' enough did cause him to quirk a single eyebrow upward.

"Dunno... ladders tend to be dicks sometimes, deciding you should fall and stuff..."

It's murmured, almost mused out, though he was merely looming over the last few words there. Lips part yet once again after a bit, however.

"Don't how you don't feel much of it, either. Your personal grudge aside, you live in slums here, barely enough food to survive another day. Little to no clean water to drink, and can't even manage proper, tidy clothes. And it's not like you guys sinned or anything..."

Mumbled, still, much like as if he was contemplating the prospect rather than stating it, but...

"...just 'cause those of middle and upper class horde all the wealth. Sitting there with much, much more than what they need to survive a comfortable life. Doesn't it make you feel shitty? Angry? Either of you..."

Half-a-shrug, then. He didn't appear to be afraid of being vocal about it, even if to a subtle degree-- but then again, these were slums.

"Being frowned upon, considered less valuable and whatnot... usually can be a trigger enough. but, well, you do you. Other means of learning a magic than just love or hatred, though... so hopefully something will work out someday?"
(Nero)
[06:15] Shortly after her reply to Indra, the kitsune stands in contemplation as Nero feeds into the emotional senses of the girl towards what's loathed. Below the surface of her person, malnourished, pale, and weak, something brews, bubbling to the surface, like an anxious sensation in a dangerous situation. It wasn't such, however, but a festering detest towards the particular party he speaks of.

It rises up, similar to steam or a fiery disposition, yet all she can feel is the bubbling sensation of that growing sentiment. A loud breath is released the more Astrid thinks about it. Her physical response is that of a balled fist, barely able to cup fingers over the next with enough strength to hit hard if she wanted to.

"You're..-" The kitsune's brows furrow. He wasn't wrong, nor did she care to openly speak about the corruptions of higher-ups despite living in their disgusting outskirts. The slums. "-not wrong," she admits quietly still as per usual, barely able to muster words amidst broken up thoughts of negativity. And yet, it's not fiery disposition still rather than a cold interior forming of that bubbling emotion.

It doesn't truly surface in that instance, but she does speak as the furrowed brows dwindle away into a neutral expression, though those inner feelings don't fade despite this change of face. "..could you show me around?" Her downcast head doesn't shift either. Rather she wanted something different of questions brewing, perhaps of earlier conversations made.

Either way, it still amplifies, emotion tying into symbolic spirituality where dormant roads begin to function, their assets set into motion. A faint outline of something emits around her balled hand, though she doesn't pay mind to it- allowing her the pass of having awakened those assumed, non-existent doors to magic. It's only a brief flash, however, before it fades out and ceases. "I have more questions too about magic and stuff," Astrid says dully, finally.
(Astrid)
[06:28] Indra had let out a laugh as she heard the murmuring about ladders being dicks. However the mood took a sudden drop after Nero mentioned the middle and higher classes and how they should probably be upset about that. But the mood drop wasn't from Indranil, but much more-so Astrid, and Indra saw that. She heard the released breath from the kitsune, and saw the balled fist.

Indra let out a sigh of her own, then sat herself up on the counter of the open stall behind her, and looked towards the horizon above the trees.
"Maybe.. Maybe with the ones who frown on us."
She said to Nero's question, then hopped herself off the stall and looked at Nero once Astrid brought back the idea of him showing them around- not that Indra needed it, she just wanted to tag along.
(Indranil Vihreä)