steepwithdead | Folkmore

[The faint puzzled frown suggests that Sephiroth really doesn't see the difference, but his lack of pursuing it also pretty clearly demonstrates he also doesn't think it's important to get into right this moment. Maybe later, once he's no longer got space disease written into his cells.]

I can tolerate quite a bit if it's uncomfortable.

[Chances are astronomical he's not going to say anything, because the goal is worth a little suffering. Maybe it'll feel like being ill. He'd never gotten sick but it sounded like a miserable time.

Unfortunately for him, while Holy aligned things are excruciatingly rare on his planet, that doesn't go for everywhere, and if he had any actual physical weaknesses, that would certainly count.]

Ideally you will feel better, not worse.

[Not that he knows if Sephiroth feels bad, now. He seems healthy enough. Regardless, he has the information and location he needs. Time to start.

He lifts a hand, fingers shifting into an intricate gesture, pointing towards the young man waiting, and he murmurs an incantation under his breath. A sweeping wind flows at once between them, twisting around Sephiroth's body, wrapped around him like a series of gentle, non-constricting vines. A sensation of warmth passes into his body, the sweetest of fires burning away that which infects him right to his core. Soft patches of pink moss grow painlessly onto his skin, turning to ash and dissolving away as they draw poisoned cells into themselves, out of his body. The whole process only takes a handful of seconds, and all the while it seems to whisper: you're alright. you'll be alright.

Sephiroth may not recognize it for what it is, but what it is, is undeniably: the loving touch of a mother, soothing one's ills. And while it may not give him the effect he's hoping for, ultimately, the process truly could not have been more gentle.]

[If he'd always felt the way he did, even if it was wrong, he'd never know the difference. Finding out otherwise might be an amazing breath of fresh air.

There's no sign of fear or pain, the vines are watched with alert interest as they rise and coil around him; it's warm and strange, better than the astringent pain he associates with anything medical. Never once does it feel like danger, and perhaps, given his nature it should. There's some distant, alien part of him that recognizes it, but any potential retaliation is utterly subsumed by the gentlest of unspoken encouragement. It'll be alright.

Well. In a way. There is no easy way to unravel the virus that is Jenova from his very DNA. Not while leaving him alive. Suddenly having so much of what makes him up purified, the black poison of his alien 'mother' replaced by the radiant tenderness of something he'd never experienced and didn't have words for, bloodlessly fractures skin and bone and more. Every cell begins to break down, missing such key components. It only takes a handful of seconds but the teenager slumps against the vines with a broken sound not of pain but of wonder.

It's like trying to cleanse the demon out of a tiefling. It can't be done without killing the hybrid. One moment he's alive, held in the loving warmth of a power he could no more comprehend than he could breathe water, the next he's not, his body unable to support life with half its components seared away.

...On the bright side, the disease is gone.]

[....

....

....]

[Oh Wildmother, we really in it now.]

[Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Let's try this again.

Caduceus reaches into his side pouch, withdrawing a sizable diamond, and rests it on Sephiroth's (no longer breathing, hoo boy) chest. He cups his hands around it, murmuring another chant, and instead of a breeze it is more like a wave, a rush of energy spreading outwards from the diamond, and a whole meadow of moss, grass, and glimmering fungi sweep across his body, the light of revival resonating through the precious gem and warming every inch, every blade, like a sunbeam encouraging growth. Warm arms gather up what remains of his soul and politely but firmly set him back down into his lifeless body, reminding him not yet, not yet. His life is young, still, and he has so much to live, so much to learn.

The diamond is dissolved through the magic of revival, and once again, the meadow of growth across his body fizzles and crumbles into ash around him. The Wildmother giveth, and the Wildmother taketh away, so to speak. Just... this time, in reverse order.

Yeah, this one's weird. But Caduceus peers over Sephiroth's face, watching to see whether or not he pulled it off in time. He's never tried a revival in Folkmore before.]

[Folkmore would have ... probably seen to bringing him back in a few hours or days regardless, right? That's how it works, usually.

He'd wondered if the Lifestream would simply reject him when he died and that's why he'd keep coming back again and again and again. None of this, even at the last moment of thinking anything at all, none of it had felt like rejection.

It had felt like the very opposite of that, and it felt nothing like the cold he expected of mako, raw lifestream. Warmth sent him on his way and warmth calls him back, sweet and comforting, strange and welcome in spite of it. That restoring him means putting his genetics back the way they'd been since birth is an unfortunate requirement, but it does work - no motes of Thirteen's resurrection system begin, not when it's unnecessary as breath resumes with a jolt, heart stuttering back into its steady rhythm, and Sephiroth himself ... more than a bit dazed as awareness flickers back. Caduceus is blinked at once slowly in muddled incomprehension, iris a thin green ring around wide pupils before they contract down to pencil thin lines as he tries to recoil from the unexpected closeness and utterly fails to manage the coordination. Give him a minute.

Maybe in time, had things gone the way they had in other timelines, Jenova would have tried a similar thing, and ensnared him for the rest of his existence. It's not Jenova this time who shows him his first and only taste of a mother's love.]

That was ...

[He sounds as dazed as he looks.]

... very nice. Do it again.

[No don't.]

[Caduceus smiles weakly - got his hands full with this one, clearly - and offers his hand out to Sephiroth, intending to pull him upright if it's taken.]

Yeah, let's not do that.

[Even if his heart could handle burning the life out of a child a second time - which, hi, no thank you, that was not very nice - he has a finite amount of diamonds, and more importantly, that's not the sort of thing anyone should start to rely on.]

I'm sorry this couldn't give you the resolution you were hoping for. But repeating what just happened isn't the way.

[He felt no different, aside from the fading sense of solace.

That and Caduceus' behavior tell him it hadn't quite gone to plan. Carefully the offered hand is accepted, with as much caution as he ever applies in case of accidentally causing harm, and pulled upright he sways in place for a moment before steadying himself.]

It didn't work, I take it. [It didn't really need to be said. He couldn't help but be disappointed, but nothing ever was that easy.] It didn't hurt for what it's worth. I've .. never felt anything like it, but it wasn't pain.

I suppose that part is good.

[The last thing he'd wanted was to cause more pain. The rest... not so good. His hand shifts to Sephiroth's shoulder to help steady him, and for the moment he leaves it there. This is the sort of moment that can require grounding.]

I think perhaps it worked too effectively. Whatever is inside you is... ingrained. Too deep to be safely removed in that manner. By killing it, it killed you.

[In truth, he's never come across anything like that before. It's alarming. The fact that it came back when life was returned to him is an even more unexpected side effect.]

Then it isn't something to be purged, because I am the disease. Just like my other mother.

[There was no difference between himself and that plague in his blood; he was the plague. For all that he looked human, it seemed others were right, straight down to his genes.. he was, absolutely, a monster. Not just a human with some extra components.

A confirmation he really wasn't looking for. It did make this a rather pointless venture beyond that, though. A waste of what was surely rather precious time for the cleric, who would have plenty to do besides this.]

... It's not the first plan I've had that didn't go the way I wanted it to. [Sheer force of will means packing up any bitterness or pain about that clarified fact isn't terribly difficult, squashed down to nothingness.] I'll just have to find another road. I admit, the last time I was killed it hurt a lot more than that. Whatever methods it is you employ, or your patron, your targets don't suffer.

[Caduceus narrows his eyes at that. Oh, he does not like it one bit.]

You've died before?

[What is it with this world - or others - where children keep dying? It's the responsibility of those around them to prevent that, and a terrible burden to be placed on them by Thirteen. Even temporary, even with a revival possible, death is not meant to be something that happens so casually. He's a grave cleric, he's died, he gets these things.

He's glad it didn't cause suffering, but still, the fact that he caused this death is not a joyful experience for him. Healing magic is not built for this. It's meant to give life, not take it.]

Just once so far. Strangulation. I am told there'll be another five incidents, probably more.

[He shouldn't be that bland about it, probably.]

Mostly in another.. fifteen years or so I think. One of the several reasons I was hoping to be rid of the virus, I believe it's what keeps me alive. [There's a moment's pause; people didn't react well to things like that, it made it sound like he wanted to die right here and now. He raises a hand to try to stall any such argument, grimacing.] I don't wish to die, as a clarification. Not yet. But I also don't want to live forever, no matter what my creator wishes. There's an important distinction, I simply want to be able to one day.

[What a morbid future to be aware of. Five future deaths? And someone strangled him recently? He's remarkable calm about all of this. A lot of adults couldn't have managed that.]

Hmm. Perhaps the answer then would be, find a way to recreate an effect that will neutralize this alien disease within you, so that when it comes your time to die - naturally, or when you so desire - that which keeps you alive can be halted.

[He's much more willing to discuss the concept when the reasoning isn't suicide, but rather a desire to live and die naturally. That, he can support. An inability to die feels more like an undead situation, and that's too unnatural for his liking.]

And in the meantime, something to suppress what makes you uncomfortable about it, while leaving you alive...

[There's much to be done first. But being able to eventually stop would be.. nice. If the Planet wouldn't let him though. What then?

Neutralizing the alien in his biology later, and something now to suppress all of it sounded unlikely.]

What I dislike about it is very extensive, that might be harder to do than assuring my eventual death.

[Maybe he's focusing on the wrong thing. If he can't prevent himself from being a problem because of his nature, could he prevent others from being affected by it?]

...What about someone who isn't born with it as I am? Could they be cured?

I think you'll understand why I might hesitate volunteering to try something like that again.

[While death is a big part of his life he doesn't enjoy causing it, good grief. Even attempting to do a good thing, even if it was peaceful, that was deeply unsettling.

He does need to answer the question, though. It's a fair one, considering the boy's fears.]

...I don't know. It depends on how deeply the affliction is ingrained. If it's altered them in a way it altered you prior to your birth, the effect might be similar. If not, perhaps it could safely be purged.

I would prefer to find a way to be sure without risking harming them. But if they haven't been infected ... very long.. only a few years, it might be okay.

[How.. would something like that be tested? Willfully infect something and see if they die when cured?

He draws a breath, shoving down the wild tangle of emotions keeping him from being able to effectively THINK about things. There still had to be a way. If he couldn't be purged..]

I don't suppose amongst your repertoire of abilities is a way to protect against unnatural mental influence.

If they are willing and are informed of the risks ahead of time, then I can try. Though I would much rather pursue other options if we can. [He pauses, then gives his component bag a little shake.] ...And I may need to get more diamonds.

[All these restorations and revival castings has drained his supply. He's happy to help and the price means nothing to him, but they are an unfortunate necessity.

The question is familiar, one he's heard very recently, and from someone with similar distinctive eyes. He can't help wondering if they're related. He can't ask, of course - that would break confidence - but he is very curious.]

There are ways, both through mental training and magic. It depends on a few things. Does this alien aspect of yours try to control you?

[That's going to be a challenge to overcome. Being willing to even listen to an explanation. Zack might, but Zack seemed wholly unaffected by Jenova to begin with. How would anyone know if Caduceus could fix it?

But Cloud.. he didn't think it was going to happen.]

..I think I know a place that has diamonds. What are the diamonds for?

[He liked the river. It was peaceful, so long as he left before sunset. How hard could it be to find a diamond in all those glittering stones?

Very difficult, as the case might be, because he doesn't know at a glance how to tell a diamond from a cubic zircon. But if they were needed.. it would be a worthwhile endeavor, surely.

There's a long stretch of silence at the question that follows though, and Sephiroth's forced to weigh how much he really wants to say. It seemed a surprising jump of logic, but who knows what was possible to discern with the aid of a goddess?

Trust is difficult. He's learned to be careful of offering it before, time after painful time. Only one person hadn't burned him yet in that respect.

But if there was a way..]

No. I don't think so. [It's careful, ever so cautious. Caduceus already knew he was part disease, how much worse could this be?] I do the controlling, whether or not I'm aware of it at the time. And when I intend to, the harm I can do is .. significant. I would prefer not to be able to. Barring that, a way to protect others from me.

Edited 2024-11-23 20:05 (UTC)

Diamonds are a spell component. They're consumed in the casting. I used one to bring you back. [You know, after he killed you. (Oops.)] I was able to get them through a lore request, so they're simple enough to get back, at least.

[He's really not concerned. They very well might've earned enough lore to pay for them through this conversation alone. Though, if Sephiroth can find an alternative supply without making it a problem for himself, Caduceus will gladly take anything.

The additional context has Caduceus more certain than before: this is the person Cloud spoke of, he thinks. And whether or not Sephiroth does the controlling intentionally (he has no real reason to doubt the boy's sincerity at this point, so he's rolling with "not" for now), as he said, harm can still be done. Hm. Well, now he has extra thinking to do.]

Tell me. What are your thoughts on learning from Thirteen, when it comes to this issue?

[He knows Sephiroth already attends school, but Cloud had had such a visceral reaction to the idea, he's just getting ahead of a fresh problem.]

Huh. I suppose now I know the actual price of a life.

[One diamond! Wait is that the lesson to be learned here? It's put aside, probably not important, as a bit of trivia to annoy the scientists with later on. Some people claimed there could be no value placed on a life, but absolutely there apparently was.]

... I've asked. She seemed to feel it was better that I master it and accept that I am a disease instead of seeking to be free of it, as it's part of my greatest potential.

[Cad's suggestion has already been taken! He has no scorn or suspicion for Thirteen, he's imminently grateful to the Fox for all this place offered him. Even if it sometimes wasn't great. He's already made that step, and Cloud's absolute rejection of the idea isn't his own.

But Thirteen was here to make them the best they could be - not necessarily what they wanted to be.]

And in a way she'd be right. I've heard of the things I can accomplish with it, when I am a fully grown monster instead of a fumbling juvenile. Before the recent ruination of Folkmore, I was making some efforts at practice, but I don't want to know how. It's not comfortable, it's not fun, it's repugnant. I just..

[Want a normal life.]

...Would rather not.

[....

Sir. Sir. You did not just.

Okay, look, the rest of what Sephiroth said is important. He'll get there. He's great at circling back around. But there's absolutely no way he can let that slide. Such misconceptions should not be ignored.]

Please don't misunderstand. The price of a life is not the cost of what is used to bring someone back. It's a catalyst, a way of channeling power. In the grand scale of things, it is nothing. If you are starving and someone offers you the cheapest gruel, your life is not the value of a single copper.

[Life doesn't have a price. It truly is the logic of a child.]

Tell me: why do you think you came back?

[This seems to be a rather unimportant tangent to pursue, now that he's been handed something that for once made perfect sense. But he does his best to follow along with what is apparently important to the firbolg, and it's painfully obvious he's missing something important in all of this.

A bowl of gruel would not return the dead to life, surely.

At least, for all that he's terribly perplexed, Sephiroth seems to understand he's misstepped somewhere by how careful he is with his response.]

Specifically just recently? Because you got there before Thirteen or the virus did..?

Not quite.

[He supposes he should have expected such a technical, clinical answer. Can't be angry if it's what he knows. Children repeat what they are taught.]

You're thinking about this in a way that can be calculated, measured. A price to be paid. A diamond for a life. [He fishes another diamond from his bag and places it in Sephiroth's palm.] There, you have a diamond. Can you save someone's life, now? Reverse death?

[Though he's certain he's gotten something very wrong, he's still not certain what it is beyond, apparently, the comfortable price tag finally put on a life and thus solving the relentless ethical question. But that can't be it, can it? The diamond is rolled thoughtfully between his fingers; any of Caduceus' friends and associates might recognize that the cleric is angry, but to him it seems like perfectly reasonable calm.]

As I am now, no. I lack the knowledge to utilize the spells you possess and I don't know if it's teachable. But I could offer you the diamond and ask you to in my stead, should someone die.

I also don't know how this works. 8D my exposure to tabletop is folkmore

all good it's really just normal magic!!

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one stupidly high insight check later

the dice love caduceus

they really do, wheeze

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