leetle | INBOX | noctium

[ Matt watches Jester's every move in fascination, though he realizes pretty quickly he'd never be able to emulate her. It's interesting to see her use a focal item--like Liem's key, almost, the way she wields it--but Matt's academic observations give way to a more gut-level appreciation. A shiver in the wind that isn't, a golden gleam over his skin as the green light flares.

And then, suddenly, Jester is over twice his height and covered in cute blue splotchy spots and oh, God, she's a giraffe. She licks his cheek, and Matt bursts into a peal of laughter. ]

Oh my God Jester! This is incredible! How are you doing this?

[Jester doesn't answer, because she is a giraffe and unable to speak while she's turned into one. Instead, she nuzzles her velvety blue nose against Matt's cheek, and then sort of snuffles her way up to his hair where she...lips at it like it's a particularly decadent patch of grass.

Her hooves, deep shiny navy blue and the size of dinner plates, clomp back and forth in the snow, and she releases her attention on Matt's head to look around at the other passersby coming and going on the sidewalk, most of whom are giving the pair of them a wide berth. Her ears flicker as she cocks her fuzzy head, looking into Matt's face with huge, dark eyes for a long moment as she tries to remember how to be a tiefling again—

—and just as quickly as it appeared, the giraffe is gone, replaced by Jester, who is grinning but looks exhausted.]

Ta-daaa! Pretty cool, right?

[ This is easily the strangest thing that's ever happened to his hair, and Matt's absolutely here for it. He laughs helplessly as a big giraffe snout noses and mouths at him, and he's still giggling when Jester turns tiefling-shaped once more.

In the face of her grin, he beams back. ]

That's more than cool. It's fucking miraculous. [ Though he's still smiling, he's completely in earnest. ] Thank you for showing me that.

[ And, because turnabout seems like fair play, Matt presses a kiss to Jester's cheek. Because he's merciful, he does not lick her face or chew on her hair. ]

[Matt's helpless laughter is a hundred percent worth the energy Jester puts into the spell, and she sighs in momentary relief as he kisses her cheek and a spark of synchrony blooms through her. He smells nice, too, when he gets close, setting off butterflies in her chest.]

Oh, you're totally welcome! And that's not actually wrong, considering I'm using my god's power to do it! Consider it a miracle of the Traveler!

[She wiggles her fingers in their fingerless gloves for effect, but then her brow wrinkles for a moment as she sways on the spot.]

—oof. Leetle bit woozy, though. [She holds out one of her hands toward Matt with a hopeful smile.] Mind walking me home?

Oh. [ Matt's already moving towards her by the time she asks. His hand catches hers, long fingers wrapping around Jester's. ] I don't mind at all.

[ A slight pause, then: ]

Does that take it out of you, using your god's power?

[Jester nods, grateful, letting her arm wrap around Matt's as their boots scuffle through the snow.]

A little bit. When I'm low on Manna or whatever. I'm still getting used to that...I feel sapped way more quickly here than I did at home.

Ah ... you're not the first magic user I've heard say that.

[ Matt, in contrast, feels like his powers have bloomed in a few months in ways that took him years back home. Part of it is the opportunity to practice, and part of it may be that he just generates a lot of Manna in general?

Linhardt had posited there was something else in the mix. That his own propensity for generating magical energy through sex formed some kind of virtuous cycle. Matt's not sure, and with Linhardt gone, he doubts he'll figure out the thermodynamics of it anytime soon. ]

I guess no matter how good your relationship is with your god, the ones here gotta take their share.

It's not as big a deal with smaller spells. I could do Thaumaturgy or Mending pretty easily, but Polymorph is a fourth-level, so it's a little bit more energy, you know?

[Jester chuckles at Matt's next comment.] That's really funny once you know that I'm his High Priestess and we are, like, best friends since I was a kid.

[ Bigger versus smaller spells makes sense to Matt as a concept. He sorts them like that himself. But the idea of knowing a spell so specifically you can say it's "fourth level" is fascinatingly out of his ken.

There's no time to mull that over, though, because-- ]

For real?

[ Matt beams, startled. ]

I mean, I say relationship because I don't know a better word. But you really know him?

For real! [Jester laughs, giving Matt's arm a little squeeze.]

We sort of grew up together. Actually, um, for a really long time he was my only real friend, except for Mama.

[That's sort of vulnerable, but Jester's said it out loud before, enough times that it barely touches her voice anymore.]

He's the one who's watched over me during all my adventures with the Mighty Nein. He actually, um, this is really funny but he possessed my pet weasel? And I didn't know for, like, a year. He was just hanging out in my hood, making sure I was okay!

Oh ...

[ Matt says it on a sighing, sympathetic tone. In a weird way, he can relate. Magic can't exactly be your friend, as various lovers have reminded him over the years, but it was the most constant presence in his life through a lonely time. It's the realest thing he knows.

--Then the word "weasel" jostles him out of his revelry, and Matt laughs in surprise. ]

He possessed the weasel. I've heard of gods taking various animal forms, but not so much sliding into one that's already around.

greetings!
this is JESTER yes?
blue woman TIEFLING name is JESTER?
is konoha
you remember?

oh my gosh! yes! how could i forget?
you gave me that delicious potato! i've never enjoyed a potato that much before!!
how are you??

[she swears she has something to ask but wait—]

such high praise!!
never before?

seriously!! i don't even really LIKe vegetables usually! but your potato was so good!

thank you muchly
i will make another time!

but also
i has question
before we talk and
you say you know LIEM!
is friend knowing?

oh yes!
Liem and I are definitely totally friends!

[Given Jester's incredibly loose and non-binding use of the word 'friend', but also given that he keeps agreeing to hang out with her, so he must at least think she's fun to be around.]

why do you ask??

i ask because
i receive most interesting secret information
LIEM will have birthday in first calendar month
so i think
why not surprise with celebration?
gather friends and have good food?

so now i am gathering
can you keep secret?

oh!! oh my gosh! that's so exciting!
do you know how old he's going to be??
i will TOTALLY be there for a surprise party! and don't worry i won't say a word to him!

[Jester laughs, too, shaking her head. Oh, Arty...always full of surprises, that guy.]

Yeah, he wanted to just, you know, keep watch! So he hung out inside Sprinkle sometimes. Which explains how he was still alive after all the shit I dragged him through, poor thing. I hope he's somewhere relaxing right now...

yes!
is most important age of one hundred and twenty two years!
and i think LIEM does not get celebration for birth much before so
should have much to make up for!
will you lend skills for preparing celebration?

That's really nice ...

Well, uh, the god part's nice. I guess the Sprinkle situation is more of an unknown.

[ Matt cants a smile Jester's way as they walk. ]

I believe in a lot of gods from my home world. All of them, I think. And there's some I ask for help, and I believe that they hear me and they answer, but ... I've never really known one like that.

It sounds really special.

oh 🤩
i had no idea he was that old!

in that case he definitely deserves an extra special party!
i could help decorate if you wanted??

yes!
is more old than two whole jinba
so why still feel like i is more old one?
unknown!

but goal is still same
have good party to celebrate in style of world who celebrate birth days!
now i do not know what is way to do this
but if asking the NETWORK i am sure will receive answers
you is good at decoration?
i is good at cooking!

i think if i say
oh! LIEM! can you come help i at i 's home
LIEM will come
and then surprise will be waiting inside yes?

Edited 2022-01-06 18:18 (UTC)

it's probably because of his youthful spirit!

[Jester he's literally like someone's accountant dad in a cloak but go off]

yes i'm great at it! i'll start working on it right away! just tell me when and where and i'll be there with bells on!

he seems very helpful so i'm sure that'll work 3:)

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text | un: konoha

un: sapphire

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