RP:Why is it Always Snakes

Summary: After shenanigans with Shishi and Quintessa, Kasyr arrives and gives Iintahquohae an explanation of what possesses her. She doesn't handle it well.

Part of the Weave Your Own Fate Arc

Part of the The God of Undeath Arc

“Sacred," the page in her journal read that morning. Just one word. What followed were pages upon pages of nothing, as if each piece of paper had been dipped in black ink.

Frostmaw Tavern

Quintessa said, "Guys, there's a Lionel statue upstairs."

Iintahquohae said, "Who's Lionel?"

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Some guy who killed a bunch of vampires a long time ago with a flaming sword. He lost the sword though."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Ah. You would think I would know more about that. Someone didn't brush me up on likely important vampiric history, however."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Really? Well, I can't say I'm surprised- history was never Kasyr's strong suit despite the fact he witnessed that battle." The changeling sighs, "I suppose I could regale you with the tale sometime."

Iintahquohae shrugs. "I suppose it could be useful. I enjoy reading about history from time to time. Magic related things nowadays." Her reading time has been severely limited due to her erratic sleep schedule. She takes a drink from her mug - concoction of blood and coffee she's grown accustomed to- then adds, "I'm rubbish at it. Finest seamstress in all of Lithrydel, but can hardly create a spark now if I tried." She recalled tossing tiny fireballs during one of the wars in this area, but that was for lighting explosives that did the actual damage. "It's frustrating."

Quintessa pulls a chair up to Iintahquohae's table and listens to her speak about her dwindling arcane abilities. "That's troubling," the young mage says, unsure what the problem could be. "You're not the first vampire who's experienced a sort of... disconnect from their magical prowess. It's something that's been a subject of my studies since I was an apprentice." Quintessa brings draws a small notebook from her satchel and holds a charcoal pencil above the sheet of paper. "Tell me, when did you first notice that your powers were fading?"

Iintahquohae prefers keeping her distance from others as of late, due to her random pangs of hunger. Thankfully, she had the mug of the gross drink she could chug from in front of her, and the wilderness of Frostmaw for her and Pinquettki to scavenge should the hunger become unbearable. Also, this was the heir to House Dragana, likely a vampire like herself. Iintahquohae became a vassal of House Azakhaer while being a human, however, so the possibility of the changeling being vampire, human, or elf could be possible. She had no real sense of how to tell. Another thing Kasyr did not educate her on. Vampire or not, this woman was in her mind de-facto ruler of Vailkrin with Lady Larewen gone, so it didn't particularly matter what she was to the seamstress. Noting her notebook and pencil, she begins explaining. “I tried my hand at magic after Kasyr sired me.” she begins. “Daath of House D'Artes took me under his wing. I learned to manipulate fire and water with minor success before setting my arm on fire,” her dull eyes focus down to the contents of her mug while she says this, and her tone goes flat. She didn't like to admit failure. “ I understand how to do it in theory, from reading. In practice, it doesn't work. For example,” she extends her hand after removing the leather glove covering it, and demonstrates the tiny spark of flame she can produce while snapping her fingers. It's barely there. “I often wonder if my abilities are more suitable in subtle ways. Creating things is in my nature, so perhaps...imbuing items with magic would be where I could find my strength.”

Quintessa takes note of the things Inks told her, making sure specifically to mention Magister Daath in her assessment. "Ah, I see. I too studied under Daath briefly. He still finds the time to scold me in his busy schedule..." The hex blade's mismatched eyes flicker up at the seamstresses display of magic, narrowing slightly at the way her spell appears muted by unknown abnormality within the weave. "Interesting..." Quintessa scribbles something else down quickly. "I would wager you are correct. While someone of your... unique abilities could no doubt practice how to dip into your reserves of mana and slowly build up the 'muscle' to cast spells at Daath's level, but that could take hundreds of years." The tip of the pencil gently rests against the odd girl's bottom lip as she pauses writing. "...Yes, your magic might would better on a material level... I won't know until I witness this talent, however. We teach 'Item Enchanting 101' as part of the spell blade curriculum at the Mage's Tower in Xalious if you ever want to attend a class. They occasionally let me lecture the apprentices and I'd love it if you came."

Iintahquohae lets her eyes roll while she recalls Daath's scolding. “It was more entertaining exchanging books with him than actually learning from him after a while.” She coughs a bit, clearing her throat this time instead of coughing up more gunk thankfully, while watching the changeling notate whatever observations she made. “I have been curious about the Mage's Guild, actually. Partially to help me attempt strengthening my abilities and partially to distract myself from what is wrong with me.” Another admission she is not proud of. The seamstress up until this point has had only one fear. Snakes. A few years ago she woke up with one tattooed just behind her ear, of all places, and she has been gradually getting worse with this illness since then. “Perhaps I'll have to stop by when I have the time. Oh-” recalling another example of her magical 'skill', or lack thereof, the seamstress pulls from her jacket pocket one of her most prized sewing tools. A spool of strange, mercurial thread. She gingerly sets it upon the table for the other woman to see. “I also managed to spin this....thread. From a rock Kasyr tossed to me, and used it to patch up a hole in Vailkrin's sky.” What she still wasn't aware of is that the rock was a tangible chunk of time the former revenant had given her, and the potential significance of her ability to manipulate it with minimal effort, being carried no less, if she recalls. She pockets the spool afterward. “Perhaps whatever gifts I have also are in simply manipulating items into different forms? I'm certainly not strong enough to thin out rocks, but I was able to do it.”

Quintessa turns to a new page writing something else down as it comes to mind. "I'm going to refer you to someone else in my field. His name is Odhranos Kerrigan and his office number is on this strip of paper." She tear the page out and holds it for the Cenril vampire to take. "He's working on a thesis and I think you would be a perfect candidate to participate in an interview. He's far more educated on the subject of hereditary magic than I am and you might find the answers you are looking for with him." The changeling pauses and her eyes lock onto the strange spool of thread on the table. "What in all the realms is -this-?" The corners of her mouth twist up in delight. This was a fantastic discovery! "I wish I had more time to look at this but I've already gotten far more distracted than I meant to- You will certainly have to show this to me again sometime!" Quintessa smiles as she closes her book and stands. "I really must get going though," The tone in the teenager's voice hints that she doesn't really want to leave. "A pleasure, as always, Miss Oohjmaeyik." And like that Quintessa was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the outside world.

Later That Night.

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "How do you feel about giant spiders?"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Those are okay. My friend Pinquettki might try to eat it and I could harvest its silk."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I'm going to talk to my agent. She's 14 years old and also my daughter."

Quintessa gave you 1 giant spider.

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Is she one of the twins?"

Shishi said, "Larket me pays for just showing up... Cause that prince wishes I was his dad."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Aye. I only have the two."

Iintahquohae walks to the door to toss the giant spider outside. There's a loud noise that sounds like combination of a hiss and a screech, followed by some crunching noises. She pokes her head out the door then turns back around. "Yeah. She liked it."

Shishi looks around like he's about to get Maury Povich'ed.

Quintessa said to Shishi, "I met the prince. He seems nicer than I thought he'd be. I'm suppose to be making him a flaming sword one day but I have to meet his mother first."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "With Aarika, right?" Shishi closed their eyes, entering a deep rest.

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Couatls are so frisky. I'm glad she liked it."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Hey!"

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Aye. With Red."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Red is a good color for her."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "I probably eat as much as she does now. We've been hunting out west here for the last few weeks between naps. I get the blood, she gets the carcass."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Gurl, you need to get your shop set up so you can stop living like a vagabond. I've got a line of customers who want masks."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "It is the -only- color for her."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Who's Green?"

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Why are you doing this to me?"

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Listen, if you are going to try and murder me the least you can do is tell me every intimate detail of your existence."

Shishi and Inks have been in a thumb war this entire time, by the way. No winner yet.

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Oh? Well, the shop is there. (oocly hasn't been rebuilt yet) It has always been hidden. Extra hidden, as of late. Northern Cenril in the beach. Father seems to have kept it maintained in my absence. Thankfully, most of my services are easy to work on while traveling. Who is inquiring about a mask?"

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Same to you!"

Iintahquohae and Blue are evenly matched when it comes to thumbs. Even when she got up, one arm'd a giant spider and tossed it outside to her hungry friend.

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "A pretty little bard named Kanna. And myself."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "I only have one ex and you know him better than I do."

Shishi the thumb warfront moved during that period.

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "We really are best friends, huh. I'd babysit the kids if you needed me to."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "I'm more than happy to work for you and Kanna. What kind of mask would you like? Do you know what kind she may like?"

Shishi said to Iintahquohae, "Aye. They are with their mother mostly though... Because I am like an unstable murderer turned sport celebrity?"

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "I cannot speak for my friend but I need something stealthy for my... less than legal activities. I've never considered what it could look like though."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I thought I did. Turns out he joined the not a vampire anymore club. Which is a club I am not a fan of."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Green is Lar..."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Yeah... I was disappointed back when I found out too."

Shishi said, "Why do they even have that club."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "I thought it might be her..."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "Idunno. My father is a murderer and I think I turned out pretty okay. You just gotta reframe it. You're resourceful. You tough. You're charismatic."

Shishi loses the thumb war in his distress about being the only vampire left.

Quintessa said to Shishi, "I wanted him to be the one to turn me, y'know? It was like, my childhood dream."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I've been married three times, kids."

Quintessa said, "Very charismatic."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "You wanted to be a vampire when you were a kid???"

Shishi said to Iintahquohae, "Word. Our fathers have a lot in common."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Yeah! I wanted to grow up first, but I always dreamed of becoming Coterie and slaughtering the enemies of my King!"

Quintessa said, "But thien he stopped being king... and stopped being a vampire... ugh... Don't meet your heroes..."

Iintahquohae raises a brow at Quintessa. "Hmm. Something easy to move around in, but shaped in a way outwardly that doesn't give hints to the actual shape of your head. Do you want it to stick out so your not so legal persona has its own 'face' or be as nondescript as possible?"

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "I like the idea of creating a new persona- a character I can play. A fearsome 'Vailkrin Slayer' or something."

Iintahquohae is still a vampire! She gives Blue's hand a reassuring squeeze. Vampires stick together. "Did your father adopt you too?" she asks Blue. "...Are you also from an orphanage in Cenril? What if we're secretly actually siblings?"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "That can be done. What is your favorite animal?"

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "(You aren't going to like the answer to this question) A snake." You snorts at the idea of slaughtering enemies for Kasyr. "I was his messenger girl when he was King, and a lovely boy from House Trintus tried to kill me but also rescued me from wolves. I am the youngest of the Coterie though. I must've missed out on most of the action."

Shishi puffs out his cheeks and will not admit to often seeking out being used as a weapon like Tessa is describing her childhood dream here. She must never know that they have anything in common. "Aye. Heroes are garbage." Quintessa lowers her head dejectedly, "I would have been the youngest... I would have killed anyone for him... I still would."

Iintahquohae blanches at the changeling's answer. "...Oh. W-well. I'll...see what I can do. I may have to charge a bit more due to the materials needed for the scales to make it look somewhat realistic," totally not upcharging because she despises snakes. Nope. "It...can be done. It may take more time than normal, but it can be done." She rubs at the horrible tattoo behind her ear. Ugh.

Shishi said to Iintahquohae, "Definitely wasn't adopted. Sorry. Can you do all that shadow crap that I do? Then we might be siblings."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "No! I can't even make magic well. I can make a stunning outfit, though."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Gold is no object to me. I assume you can make all the normal arrangements for materials?"

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Do you have a Mrs Yellow in your life? Or perhaps a Mrs. Purple?"

Iintahquohae frowns at Quintessa. "If it is any consolation, you don't have to worry about drinking blood until your stomach feels like it'll burst and then sleeping for a few days at a time or throwing up black stuff that turns into strange solidified chunks when your sire pokes at it." She turns to Blue, noticing that she's still squeezing his hand. "Oops. Do you vomit black stuff too? Am I just a broken vampire?"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Absolutely. What...colors are you looking for?" Maybe if it's something vibrant like her couatl friend, she won't think of it as a snake. "Purple, green, blue?"

Quintessa frowns back at Iintahquohae, but even frownier. "N-no, I certainly don't have to deal with that. I really need to figure out what's going on. Last time I had to deal with a vampire throwing up black goo he ended up blowing up in the nameless desert and ended up mortal again,"

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Ooh, it's gotta be green. It's my favorite color."

Quintessa is basically a doctor for vampires and undead at this point.

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Yellow is my son. He also had a hand in naming a cat 'Purple' but he was young and ignorant and that designation has no sway. There isn't a Purple. I don't think there ever has been." Quintessa said to Shishi, "If I had to give the girl I like a color it would be Pink, like her eyes."

Shishi said to Iintahquohae, "No. Well... Yes, sometimes I've barfed up shadow, but I guess that's not goo. Also for an extended period of time there was a chaos bloom plant living in my body."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Please don't go around calling people colors. It'll confuse the hell out of me."

Shishi said, "I've since barfed up that plant because... I don't want to talk about it."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Well, I can't keep calling her my 'Xalious Princess', it sounds too cringy."

Shishi snorts, "No. You should keep that up."

Quintessa buries her head under her arms. "I knew it! It sounds terrible!"

Iintahquohae's frown gets...more frowny. "If that is what is going to happen to me, I will be furious. Kasyr has to know what is wrong. Surely the vampire you dealt with didn't have their...vomit turn into little solidified chunks after someone -touched- it, did they? Or did he pour something on it..." She doesn't remember. Either way, the seamstress is frustrated. The changeling's decision on a green snake head makes her smile. Pinquettki's green. Thank goodness. "That will be manageable." She turns back to Blue. "That sounds a bit more comfortable than barfing up goo. I have a ....ghost friend....I'm not sure what you would call him, that hangs around me. Flies out of my mouth sometimes." She opens her mouth, and sure enough, instead of black goo, a wispy, slightly transparent octopus tentacle pokes pops out. She snaps her mouth shut afterward. "His name is Teenakt."

Shishi said, "Gwah~! Also I was married to Kas's sire, so there's a big web of connection going on here."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "So that means you're like my grandfather, right?"

Shishi said, "That's a g-ghost?"

Shishi backs up a little bit.

Quintessa is momentarily distracted by ghost friend. "Hiiii Teenakt!"

Iintahquohae shrugs. "I don't really know." The little transparent octopus makes itself more visible, tentacles weaving in the seamstress's curly hair. Its head appears on the top of her head. One of the tentacles lift up to wave sluggishly at Blue. "He is just kind of...there. I met him when I met Kirien."

Shishi said to you, "ex-Step-grandfather. Maybe. I'm definitely closer related to this one here if 'Dragana' means what I think it does."

Teenakt waves at Quintessa. That's really all he does. Float in the air like he's swimming and wave at people.

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "...Do I have to call you paw paw Blue now?"

Shishi doesn't take his eyes off Twenakt. "Oh. That's nice." His shaky tone betrays the fact that he does not think it is that nice.

Quintessa said to Teenakt, "I like cephalopods. Ghost cephalopods are even cooler!"

Shishi said, "Do not call me paw paw Blue. I'm not grandpa!"

Quintessa said to Shishi, "What does the name 'Dragana' mean to you? Personally, I mean."

Shishi said, "The hell is a cephalopods?"

Quintessa said, "Octopus, squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids... Basic sea stuff."

Iintahquohae's eyes look upward while Teenakt just sorta...wiggles in place, then disappears. He's probably hiding in her pocket or is just invisible, floating around nearby. Maybe by Blue. Who knows? "I like cephalopods as well." She tugs down the collar of her jacket a bit to reveal the octopus-tentacle choker she always wears. "They're my favorite."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "...Okay, old man."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "It is the name used by my vampire bloodline... Which was very well curated by me before Green went off the rails."

Shishi spins around 360°. "Did a ghost just touch me?"

Shishi said, "I'm not grandpa."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Wear I grew up, Black Pond, there's an old kraken that lives there. I've seen him kill lots of people."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "...Fine. He's trying to poke your shoulder by the way."

Shishi said, "If you're a ghost, don't touch me"

Quintessa said to Shishi, "'Off the rails' is a nice way of saying she went nuts and almost destroyed her entire legacy. This is exactly the type of thing we should be talking about in character."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Oh! Yeah, I've heard of that kraken. Never seen it, though. I avoid the woods over there after being attacked by wolves."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I agree 100 percent. If this guy would just challenge me or not challenge me already..."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "The wolves were tricky at first but the Flesh Golems keep them at bay. The Dark Forest is a safe place now... for those I welcome."

Teenakt is floating in circles around Blue's head. He likes him!

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Right? I'm impatient!"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "That's really good to know. Thank you. Mister Langley wanted to take me out there once, but it never came to be. He was one of the men that wanted to help Lady Larewen. Haven't heard from him in years so he must have skipped town." Shishi can almost feel it. This is the worst.

Quintessa feels a shiver move up her spine at the mention of 'Mister Langley'. "Yes... I'm sure it certainly looked like help. I'm somewhat glad Mister Langley isn't around to tempt me anymore."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I mean to be out of Frostmaw by July."

Shishi realizes the insanity of that statement give the title of the tourney is "Titans of WINTER"

Quintessa said, "It's always winter in Frostmaw."

Iintahquohae raises a brow. "What did he do? He offered me power if I helped Lady Larewen." She looks down at her gloved hand. Beneath the glove there used to be his mark burned into her palm, but it vanished over time. "A bit too snake-oil salesman for my taste at times, but he did enjoy the finer things."

Teenakt wiggles a tentacle in Blue's face. He's gotten comfy floating above his head.

Shishi said, "It is always night time in Vailkrin."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "I don't trust him. His promises seem to come with a price."

Shishi said, "The heck is Mr. Langley?"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "I can handle that. I can't die. I'm lucky."

Iintahquohae said to Shishi, "He's a silly man that dresses very nicely. Likes shaking hands when he makes deals with you."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "You'd probably die if I injected you with dragon's blood... Not that I'd ever do that to a noncombatant such as yourself."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "He's a con artist, he is!"

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "...Probably. But my luck would keep me going one way or another."

Shishi said, "Who says that!? This is a villainess."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "I can't decide if that would be good luck or bad luck."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Wait... Do you have syringes filled with dragons blood?"

Teenakt rolls away from Blue and drifts back over to Inks. The spectral octopus pretends to swim into the seamstress's ear and disappears from view.

Shishi said, "I think that's a ghost."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Sure, yeah. I'm in to all kinds of toxins and science stuff."

Iintahquohae shrugs and empties her mug of blood coffee. It still tastes as horrible as it sounds, but it's making her talkative so she'll keep chugging it. "Good luck, I would expect. I am fortunate to be lucky."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "Not good. I hate that."

Iintahquohae said, "Ghosts aren't that spooky."

Quintessa said to Shishi, "Yeah? So tread carefully! I might not be the best at fighting but I'm scrappy enough to hit you where it hurts."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "Well, be careful. Good luck can be stolen from you."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Can my...flu or whatever this is be stolen from me instead?"

Kasyr is currently regretting the fact that there's so many stairs to make his way down. Really, the Kensai should probably still be partaking in bed rest, but there was something to be said for familiar faces helping in the recuperative process. ...Probably. He's pretty sure he remembered something like that, though the physician that had fussed over him would likely disagree. Certainly, he'd taken issue with the roughshod manner in which it had been sewn back on, and the mutual lack of understanding there had been about the items used in it's restoration- especially given the onset of weakness that now seemed to occasionally consume Kasyr. It's for that reason it takes him the entirety of this paragraph to reach the final step of the stairwell, a few haggard puffs of breath accompanying the effort as he leans against the wall. He can't suppress the scowl he directs towards the sling his reattached arm rests in- though he at least manages to avoid directing it towards the trio at the table. "Bonne soir."

Quintessa said to Iintahquohae, "My darling, I will do everything in my power to cure you of this... strange aliment, but I cannot make you a promise that it will ever get better. Not yet, anyway."

Shishi said to Quintessa, "I consistently find you problematic."

Iintahquohae is about to respond to Quintessa with a very grateful thank you, but practically hops to her feet the moment she sees Kasyr. ...And jostles the table enough that the mug she's been drinking from nearly tips over. “Thank goodness. You're not dead.” She'd offer to help him walk over to the table to get comfortable, but she doesn't want to cough on him, or smother him. He could tell her what to do if he needed to.

Quintessa allows her attention to drift from Iintahquohae as a familiar voice graces her ears, and the changeling turns in her seat to look at him. "You look like hell," The hex blade says to her teacher, cracking him a smirk as her mismatched gaze trails over his body. Quintessa cannot deny that she is glad to see him. "But I'm glad to see you up and about. I didn't see the end of the match, but when Magik and Karasu told me what happened?" The odd girl shakes her head. "I've been popping in every few days to check on you. I hope you don't mind me fussing after you."

Kasyr 's good hand drifts to his forehead, pushing back his hair in what he hopes is a casual enough gesture, "I mean, I've lived through worse. Stubborn, et all that." Thankfully, the Kensai seems to have enough strength to begin shuffling towards the trio- though the promise of a chair to collapse into does help. "I did not expect him to be able to muster that same sort of speed, even briefly." There's a sense of...annoyance, if anything carried in the remark, though it's punctuated by a small shuddering cough. Once he's recovered, he manages a sheepish smile, "Anyways, thanks for checking up. I'll admit to not being lucid enough until recently to be aware." It's about that point that the swordsman would probably give a side-eye to any :3 faced ghosties, especially since the Kensai has a ghost nomming sword he can fetch. Sure, he can't use it right now, but he could drag it over here. Threateningly.

Quintessa shakes her head. "He must have been taking it easy on me when I beat him. Or perhaps that Arcane Strom I syphoned helped me crush him, either way I never would have expected that outcome- not after you defeated me so handily." Quintessa secretly blames tapping into Gospel's influence as the reason she lost. After all, Kasyr has been fighting that big snake for ages, of course she shouldn't have tried leaning on it. "I've been getting to know Miss Oohjmaeyik in the meantime, however." Quintessa looks over at Iintahquohae before she compliments her. "You are a very charming woman. It's always a pleasure talking with you."

Iintahquohae nudges her chair leg with her boot to turn it a bit for Kas to take, stepping out of the way to allow him to collapse into it if he wants to. She grabs a chair from another table and settles into it. As much as she would like to bombard her sire with questions on if he figured out what her ailment was, she decided to not be as selfish this time, instead eyeing his reattached arm. “...It will work again, won't it? Maybe that thread didn't work. I have cotton instead. I don't know if the healer I dragged up here was helpful.” Really, she hadn't made the effort to actually check in on him. If she were in his place, she wouldn't want to be bothered, but the seamstress did spend a lot of her sleeping and waking hours between meals curled up in a chair in the tavern. She cares. We just don't talk about it. Iintahquohae can't help blinking at the changeling's compliment. “...Really?” Cold, antisocial Inky O is a pleasure to talk to. This is new. She's supposed to be all business, no fun. She blames the coffee.“That's very kind of you, Quintessa. Thanks. You're pretty delightful yourself.” Minus the snake mask request. Snakes are the worst.

Quintessa is normally considered a very creepy and strange person, so she also takes the compliment to heart. Delightful? She gasps, nearly blushing. "Aww, nobody has ever said that about me before!"

Kasyr needs a moment to process just what the seamstress is suggesting, but he's fairly quick to offer up a rather firm, "No." before he carefully adds a, "Thank you. But, I'd rather not have my arm cut off again- I don't think changing threads will make it work better, or not. Just, time, et healers." Quintessa might have also been side-eyed there at the mention, if only because experimenting like that would seem right up their alley. "Glad you get along, enfin. She's the one responsible for stitching Vailkrins sky back up when everything was going to hell." She was probably already aware, given her penchant for deep Vailkrin lore, and the like- but details like that do slip through the cracks. "So, what's been...new, ou quoi-ce-soit? World gotten worse? Vailkrin burned to the ground in my absence?" Really, the Kensai is just waiting for things to get worse.

Iintahquohae grins at Quintessa. It's a small, rare thing, but there it is. This is very odd. It's not so bad. Friends aren't really something the seamstress has, but maybe the whole vampire thing has opened her up more than she'd like to admit. As she has been very much out of the loop with world events, her informative response to her sire's query is, “My body seems to be ridding itself of even more of whatever I'm coughing up. I woke up from a...three or four day sleep not too long ago? Coffee is now my primary source of any joy. Frostmares may go extinct if I am not careful.”

Quintessa might have been eyeing Kasyr's arm when he spoke of healers, and the changeling instantly is met with the kensai's side-eye. "What?" she asks, trying to act like she wasn't disappointed she didn't get to experiment on his arm a bit before they reattached it. "I was just thinking... I've been devolving a universal panacea and this might be a good opportunity to see if it works as well as I think it will..." Quintessa looks over at Inks and she smiles at her. "Yes! I don't know if you told me personally or not, but when you showed me that mystic thread I knew for sure it was you. You've always been a huge inspiration for my dressmaking!"

Kasyr supposes that if they haven't had to do with a deluge of mail, requests or other assorted errata from Vailkrin nobility and the like- then he can certainly count his blessings. Honestly, there's a small part of the kensai that's hoping that Vexar instead finds himself the subject of whatever inquiries for help in resolving problems the swordsman used to get. Maybe he can wind up press-ganged into the next world ending dilemma that occurs. Not that it would save the swordsman from Quintessa's attention, "Uh. Huh. Also, how untested is that Panacea?" That said, his attention flicks back towards his fledgeling, his expression stuck somewhere between concern and amusement, "As in it's getting worse, or you're getting better?"

Iintahquohae enjoyed what little...she supposes sparkle, the sewing the Vailkrin's sky together bit gave her when it came to her business. Having her name marked down in history for something like that was essentially free advertising. She flashes another fanged grin at Quintessa. “That's nice to hear. I'd love to see what you have made sometime.” Turning to her sire, her shoulders slump. “...Manageable? Worse? Definitely not better. Did this happen to any of the others? Dami? Kirien?” She hadn't seen either terramancer in years.

Quintessa smiles like a little imp, her sharp teeth flashing over at him. "It hasn't moved into the testing phase yet," she admits, "But neither have most of my healing potions. It didn't stop you before?" It's unclear whether or not Quintessa is being serious. "But you asked about how things were going?" The changeling shrugs. "The Mage Guild's hierarchy has become growing emboldened, going as far as to strike a deal with me to get Lanlan ejected. Provost Kanaame threatened to torture me to death if I didn't kidnap his daughters for him. I had to go into the Shadow Plane to rescue Khitti's son. Oh! I got into a fight with Krice and he defeated me like I was a child- That was fun. What else? All is quiet in Vailkrin. I'm pretty sure Shishi is going to try and assassinate me but I told Magik and he said he'd handle it. Gevurah hasn't showed her face to me since the Red Skull Arena debacle, and Karasu and I fought, made up, and now we are dating I think? I'm not sure. I think you are pretty much caught up now, Mon Ami,"

Kasyr can't help the concerned look that crosses his features as Inks begins listing off the other members of the Coterie. "Enfin, non. Your exact symptoms are a bit unique, enfin. I have an idea, au moin." Well, more than an idea- but he wasn't quite sure how he was going to broach the topic, especially given his feelings on the arnaments these days. "I never saw this in either of them, but it's also been years." And for all the Kensai knew, Dami was suffering like this, now. In any case, while there is likely more the swordsman could say- Quintessa's spiel does an adequate job of arresting his attention. "...What." Well, that explained some things, though the Kensai would have bet the changeling would have evicted Lanlan for free. "...What?! ...Wait, didn't you say he knew something about Karasu?" ...It was a bit vague, but there's a sense of -something- the Kensai forgot. The mention of Khitti gets a bit more of a blank look, but when it veers towards Krice, Kasyr finds himself just canting his head, "...Sparring? He -es- quick." Really, there's a lot to parse here, but the swordsman is fairly sure what it ultimately boils down to is, "...Congratulations . . . I think? I do believe, at least on the front of Gevurah, you -shouldn't- have too much to worry about. Currently." Truces only last so long as all parties adhere to their words, and the thing necessitating them remain.

Iintahquohae listens to Quintessa's talk about her goings on to be polite, recognizing the name Lanlan but not entirely following the rest. She's mostly hoping, waiting to see if Kasyr has anything that might ease her mind on whatever is wrong with her. Then she gets it. “An idea,” she repeats his words. An idea is a start. “...What is the idea?” Knowing her vampiric...family, as she refers to it, probably a very dangerous and possibly painful idea. Or she may end up with a new set of ears? Maybe a tail? Did Dami have a tail or ears? She leans forward expectantly, waiting for her sire's response.

Quintessa can tell she's given Kasyr a lot of food for thought, so she pauses to let it digest. "If you need me to go into details, just ask." Her eyes flicker to Inks and then back to her sire, her face becoming serious for a moment. "Whatever information you can provide about Miss Oohjmaeyik's condition, the better. I've taken it upon myself to become her personal physician in this matter. There are few more qualified than myself."

Kasyr is grateful for his years as a politician, especially in this moment. After all, there's a certain internal uncertainty when she volunteers herself- not because he doubts her prowess, but because her intentions themselves are muddied by the Kensais theory. She had, after all, sought out power from Gospel- and if she discovered that something ...similar resided within the seamstress? ...Or did she already know? It takes a moment for the Kensai to realize he's staring at Tessa, though he does little to correct the gesture, save to cant his head off to one side and casually add, "Je m'en doute pas." With effort, he redirects his attention to Inks, trying not to let any of his anxiety creep into his expression, "I honestly don't know if you'd end up with that. If I'm right, you'd likely end up with something arguably more useful, just less, fashionable, et tout cela. But- I don't think discussing it publically is..." He gestures a bit broadly to the room. "Maybe when i'm less muddled et can move about?"

End up with what? Iintahquohae squints. “Kasyr, I will lift you up and carry you right back up those stairs myself if it means you'll tell me what may be wrong,” the seamstress visibly stiffens a bit while she glares at him. Whether it's intimidating or not is up in the air (read: highly unlikely, Stitch ain't scary). She isn't going to budge on this if she can help it. Feeling desperate is an unfamiliar thing for her, and she wants to rid herself of the feeling as quickly as possible. “Please.”

Quintessa stares back at Kasyr, recognizing that vacant look from somewhere. He was in his head again, thinking about something, but what? "Je m'en doute pas..." Quintessa repeats like a mocking bird, liking the way the foreign language felt in her mouth. There was only one thing that lingered on Kasyr's mind this heavily that that changeling knew of, and it was the reason he kept himself so drunk to begin with. How could Quintessa ever convince him that she had grown wary of the empty promises Gospel so casually whispered into her ear. "I'm going to find out one way or another," she claims, trying to urge Kasyr to speak more. "But if it pleases you I'll leave you two alone."

Kasyr gives the seamstress a look that bordered on amused, more than anything, "If it meant skipping the trip back up the stairs, I'd be half tempted to be even more obtuse, enfin." Still, her concern is hard to miss, which helps to make him hesitate. That, and the simple glaring truth that Quintessa states. One way or another certainly plays on the Kensais mind- and the fact that she was asking questions at least lent itself to the idea that she wasn't currently parlaying with the problem. "Fine then. Up we go. I'd still rather not say it here, since it almost borders on a..." Personal problem? Well, the truth can be finangled slightly and still be accurate, "State secret, je suppose." With a puff, the swordsman begins to push himself up to his feet, grudging the manner in which his slung arm refuses even the slightest movement the whole while. Hence sorted, he starts to tread forward, only to pause at the base of the steps and peer upwards- one hand coming up to his lips to stifle a faint cough. "..Right."

Iintahquohae didn't particularly care if Quintessa accompanied them up the stairs or not, especially when the changeling voiced that she'd find out one way or another. That's an attitude she can get behind, especially since that's the mindset she had had for the last few days waiting for Kasyr to appear. The seamstress is quick to her feet, following after her sire. Her head turns to regard Quintessa, and it jerks slightly toward the staircase with her eyes flicking from the woman to the stairs as well. Come on up if you want, is the look she's attempting to convey. Whether she follows or not is up to her. The seamstress reaches Kasyr's side with his functioning arm, and offers her arm to help lead him up the stairs if he needs it. “Thank you for this, Kasyr.” she mutters. “I know I've been persistent as of late.”

Quintessa raises to join them, internally hoping it isn't the 'Great Serpent of the Moon' like she is starting to think it is. The hex blade moves to assist her teacher as well, her hand resting on the kensai's back reaches the stairs. "I'm not carrying you though." She jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

Kasyr s' hackles briefly raise when his arm is taken, but he relents before he can even begin to protest, if only because he can feel his vision swimming slightly. Thus, he puts on a brave smile, and begins to make his way up, trying not to think too hard on the situation, "I imagine I'd have been just as persistent if the roles were reversed. Daedria knows I have time on my hands, courrament." A pause. "Hand, I guess. Anyways." Getting up the stairs is a surprisingly less time consuming task then the journey down, though the additional help does go a long way towards facilitating this process. Once at the top he turns to survey the upper hall, and the room beneath, before he carefully begins to meander towards the room he'd been resting in. "Anyways, get a seat- always better to get comfortable for this sort of thing." Whether it's exposition, or terrible repercussions- the Kensai is leaving that one up in the air.

Iintahquohae doesn't like the words 'always better to get comfortable for this sort of thing' in this context. So it's bad news. Great. But at least she would know. She holds the door for Kasyr and Quintessa to wander in, shutting it behind her once she has followed in after them. The seamstress takes a seat in a chair closest to the room's window, just in case she needed to cough up more gunk. More polite than spitting it up on the floor. One leg crosses over the other while she waits attentively on her sire to offer up an explanation, bracing herself for the worst. Whatever the worst is. ...Bracing herself for figuring out how to mentally wrap her mind around whatever the worst may be may be a better description. “So...”

Quintessa does as she's told and takes a seat. She remembers how harrowing delving into Kasyr's dreams was, and the echoes of the monster that haunted him. There was a time when Quintessa called on Gospel for council but the changeling had become increasing distrustful of anything or anyone that promised her power. She didn't like being in the debt of something so epic. It made her feel insignificant and weak. Quintessa hated feeling weak, and thusly had rejected Gospel's advances to try and woo her again and again. The Eldritch being's silence only proved how insignificant she truly was to it. With a lithe hand moving up to idly tug at her bottom lip, Quintessa's mismatched eyes steady on Kasyr, awaiting the inevitable truth she didn't want to acknowledge. Inks might have been beyond Quintessa's help after all.

Kasyr wants to stall. There's a part of him that is practically dying for a drink, but there's no booze around courtesy of that quack doctor, and there's certainly no available frostmares. Thus, after a few more moments, he clears his throat and begins, " When you first described things to me, I was at a loss, enfin. This wasn't something I had seen before. Or at least, It wasn't something I had seen before in this particular guise. I'm still not sure as to the reason behind the symptoms, but I'm at least certain of the cause." Internally, the swordsman winces- if only because of how roundabout the lead up is, before he presses forward, "To put it, uh, as mildly as possible. You're . . . possessed, of a sorts." Infested, had been the word he'd wrestled with. "By something similar to Gospel, my old sword. I'm not sure exactly when it happened, "Though he had his suspicions, now that he'd had time to think on it, "But- you seem to be serving as a host to one of it's progeny. That said, I don't know why you're so ill. Peut-etre it's some fundamental incompatability." That's the hope, anyways. The more bleaker aspect of the Kensais mind has potentially chalked up the idea that it's intentionally killing her, simply out of spite to the swordsman.

Iintahquohae is possessed. She blinks. Possessed? “...That's it?” A few more blinks while she replays what has been said a few more times. “...Possessed by something similar to a sword.” Another sword? A dagger? If she were still mortal and living in Cenril, a good arm's length away from her father's business, this would have been something she'd imagine a local drunk saying if she passed one on the street. But unfortunately for her, Father made Kasyr's jackets before she began making his jackets, so...she heard whispers of things. Nothing she really understood, but whispers nonetheless. The gears slowly turn in her head while she tries to grasp for possible solutions, or take a guess at how to stop herself from feeling sick. “So,” Iintahquohae begins, speaking slowly. “I have something similar to your old sword in me. I'm vomiting without any real warning. ...Am I trying to throw it up?” Now she, really really hopes it's a dagger. Probably easier to get out of one's mouth than an entire sword. The seamstress peers over her shoulder to the window behind her. Her jaw stiffens. We've figured out the problem, and to her, a clear...ish? Solution. Welp. Think of it like ripping off a really strong, but probably sharp bandage. “We're going to have to make me sick enough to get it out, then.”

Kasyr , were the situation not so severe, might have found the seamstresses response comical, but there's a gravity that's retained in his voice, when he finally moves to respond. "It's not -just- a sword. Gospel was an ouroboros- some sort of...ancient serpent, that had been sealed, or forged into a blade. It's children, which were derived from it, are blades- but also creatures all the same." Considering Iintahquohae's squeamishness towards things of an Ophidian nature, that's likely not the kindest thing to say, but, it's better to brace her for the possibility. To clarify this point further, he slowly teeters his way across the room towards his jacket, fiddling around with it's interior pockets for a few long moments, before finally reaching into coat pocket and retrieving the small vial of black ichor he'd collected the other day. Only, it wasn't quite the same, anymore. Whilst it had been fairly quick to crystallize, bits of it had started to distort, and shift into a shape more akin to shed scales. "I think, perhaps- that the one inside you es growing, if anything- which might explain this." Just in case she doesn't get a good look, he tosses the vial over towards her. That's not to say she's not free to try and make herself hurl- because frankly, any idea is a good idea at this point. But it certainly provides an idea as to the outcome.

Iintahquohae pales considerably at Kasyr's words and begins to feel numb. “Fu-” There's a sword...snake -in- her? Lovely. All of her nightmares. Right there. In her stomach. She just barely catches the vial tossed to her as now, the seamstress feels a bit limp. Attempting to envision what the serpent within her looks like but with a pair of feathery wings slapped onto it to make it more couatl-like doesn't seem to be working like it did earlier in the evening, for Quintessa's mask request. Instead she takes in sharp breaths while her trembling hands hold the vial and properly view its contents. So it's shedding. She's coughing up its shedding scales. More pieces seem to click in that instant, and the vial falls from her hands to the floor. The bouts of ridiculous hunger. The days of sleep at a time. She's been -feeding- it, and it's growing, and shedding its old scales and skin in her... The cycle of thoughts make the seamstress involuntarily gag and turn to the window. She is too late yanking it open to retch onto the street outside. Instead a whole lot of black ichor spews out to the floor. ...Better out than in? She wants it out.

Kasyr isn't quite sure what to say in the moment, though he supposes the easiest thing to do would be to further clarify so he doesn't have to potentially deal with her dissecting herself, if an excessive amount of retching won't amend things. That, and to back away closer to the door, and away from the growing puddle of viscous ooze gradually encroaching through the room. "I should note- I've seen it -on- you. It es, ...probably not physically in your stomach, but more, you in general. Gospel used to reside in the tattoo's along my arm, though it would be more accurate to say that's where it choose to emerge from. It's both physically attached to you, as well as ...attached to your soul. Et this latter part es why I would caution you not to die, given that Gospel et it's ilk seem to be spiritually voracious things." Probably not the most reassuring thing to here right now, but, she had desired answers. May as well get the crux of it all out there. And if Quintessa hadn't dozed off- this would at least help to drive home the point of why he'd been so cautious about her actively seeking out Gospel as a resource for power.

Iintahquohae's head slowly lifts. She was doubled over, clutching her stomach while trying to force more of the ooze out of her. Finally there is nothing left, and she is dry heaving. With the back of her hand, she wipes vomit from her mouth. “The tattoo?” Her voice is hoarse despite her efforts to try raising it while she exclaims, “THAT is why I have this horrendous thing on my neck?!” The cleaner of her two hands reaches to where the tattoo is, a little snake curled in on itself. She detested it. “I will not die. I can't die. But I can't...I won't. I have two options here, Kasyr.” Whether the options are irrational or not is for her sire to decide. “I figure out how to get this sword out of me and I kill this snake myself, or...” she trails off as this idea makes her skin crawl far more than the fact that she has a weapon in her. She heard him say probably not physically, but she is obviously not thinking clearly. “...Or I have to learn to get over my fear of snakes and...live with it. I can't die. I don't die.” The seamstress slumps down into the chair and coughs. Once the coughing subsides, she looks to her sire. “How did you get Gospel out of you? How can I get this weapon out of me?”

Kasyr , genuinely contemplates the options given here. if only because he's wondering if the weapons nascent state might make it more vulnerable than it's peers. "...I'll confess, I've not been capable of destroying -any- of the weapons asofar. Gospel was resilient enough that it refused to be sundered, even within Solaris' grasp." A part of him is entirely up for the challenge of trying- though there's the question of whether the act -would- do any harm to the seamstress, "I don't know how you'd fare, though, given the spiritual bond. Et that's the thing with Gospel, as well. -I- didn't get it out of myself. It...usurped control after I'd found a way to keep it surpressed, et managed to regain it's form. The most I had managed to do es send it elsewhere with sheer brute force- with the hopes it would stay ...exiled." There's a sort of wry smile here, the Kensai offering a lopsided shrug, "It didn't take, given it's back now." He looks at her a bit more closely, before adding, "As for getting it out of you- all of them made their presence known to the wielder eventually. The fact that it hadn't is why I took a guess that it's growing. Well, that, et your other symptoms."

Iintahquohae didn't like what she was hearing because of the conclusions she jumped to and assumptions beginning to form in her mind. The potential answer she drums up isn't the answer she wanted. “It's growing,” she repeats, biting down on her bottom lip to prevent the gagging sensation in her throat. Growing. Great. “...So to get it out I have to feed it, don't I. That's why I've been like this.” That likely explains why she's taken such a strong liking to hunting for dinosaurs in Venturil. To feed it. Her stomach lurches at the thought. “Then...I will continue feeding it. I don't know how to use a weapon, really,” Kasyr may recall her fondness for using chairs in place of actual weapons, “When you are better, and should I have my hands on the sword by then, will you give me a lesson or two?” This raised so many more questions. How did she know when the serpent was doing growing? How would it leave her? Would a sword just appear on her hip one day? Her hands rake through her messy curls while she exhales. “Is there anything else I should know...Anything I should prepare myself for?”

Kasyr may have had to correct some of the bits of guesswork made asofar, but the conclusion she's dawned on in the moment is the same as his own. "Well, all of them fed on things dying- so, I'd say that parses. Perhaps when I'm next drawn into a journey with the adventurers guild, I'll ask tu along- as the opportunity to end things is ever present." The Kensai almost clarifies that the act of feeding itself wasn't needed, simply the expiration of the target- but there's a certain implicit danger in that, which he'd rather not have to contend with. "As for learning how to wield it. . . " It was unavoidable, all given- and better she have a tutor, than simply bumble and have the weapon itself as a guide, "J'suppose- oui. It's not like I'm not spending time playing sword instructor these days. I really ought to attend to some classes soon- Maybe just guzzle a some booze and potions before class to get through them. "As for anything else- well, the weapons have a tendency to attract trouble- et, they tend to be chatty inside the heads of their wielder. Don't listen to them, too much, if it can be helped." Certainly a courteous way to mention they had a tendency to influence, and even rarely possess their wielders fully.

Iintahquohae nods slowly while listening, still wondering to herself if she even begins to fully grasp and accept everything he is telling her. “So it's the kill that matters, then? The more I kill the faster it grows. Gotcha. I would love to join you with the adventurer's guild.” She is appreciative that he would help her learn how to use the weapon, even if it's just how to swing . The end of her sire's description of what the serpent will do makes her grimace. “It will talk to me? Wonderful.” She has heard enough for now. Some sleep seems more important. She stands, looking just behind her at the vomit on the floor. Hopefully a maid or room service comes in to clean that up. “Thank you, Kasyr. I think...I think I can rest somewhat comfortably now. I have a room across the hall if needed. The seamstress needs to process all of what she has been told tonight with a clearer head. “Take care, yeah? And thank you again.” She quietly wanders out of the room and into the room directly across the hall, whereupon she collapses on the bed to sleep for who knows how long.

Kasyr takes a long look at the slowly cooling pool of bile, and then back towards Inks, before letting out a small exhale, "I think I'll take you on the offer of, if needed, j'pense." There's so much wrong with the idea of sleeping next to literally evil snake spew.