It can be. Depends on what you try, and if you've got the head for it. But you've gotta be prepared to put some feeling into it. Think you can do that?
Wonderful, you're now my cousin. Please ask them to discharge me into your care as a responsible adult. I'm certain they would have for Zack if I asked, but I have ... imposed too much on him as is.
Pretty sure I could convince them I'm your father if they asked.
[Bard privileges. Tav is a ridiculously skilled liar, with the caveat for catching him in the act being that someone has to even be aware they might be being lied to in the first place.]
But, cousin, sure. I'll head on over. Think I can get you feeling better as well as getting you out.
[Surprise! But Sephiroth does have a point. He might be pushing it a little, especially if someone in the hospital is a little more aware than the average person...
Maybe brother would be better? He'll think of something appropriate.]
[That's definitely old enough, but if he didn't look it, would it get questioned?
Getting past the front desk is easy for a bard that specializes in lying through their teeth; it's a fairly modern establishment, well lit and clean, with plenty of adventurers and would-be monster hunters turning up with all manner of injuries minor and major. The directions supplied are clear and easy to navigate, with convenient signage on the walls pointing this way or that.
Luck means Sephiroth has no roommates, and by now he's only on a standard life signs monitor, the origin of the faint background beeping. But he's learned years ago how to do things even tethered to one of those, and he can probably be forgiven if he's dressed and waiting, sitting on the edge of the bed. He's far paler than last time they met, and his jacket's full of ominous little holes, but it's clean, and the nondescript black teeshirt has no similar holes. It's good enough. He's alert, he's awake, he's not about to suddenly collapse.
At least the room doesn't look like a sterile lab room, it's meant for longer stays, with actual wood paneling and a window with a decent view of the desert.]
[In the end he decides on 'brother', reasoning that a cousin may not be good enough to get the kind of access he's after and saying he's the kid's father might be too much. For someone of Tav's talents in deception, with easy charm and an easy smile, he quickly has the people at the front desk under his thumb and is heading off to the room number that was given to him.]
Hey.
[He slips into the room, closing the door behind him, and there's a small flicker of concern as he immediately sees how pale the teenager looks.]
Hells, you sure you can be walking out of here? [Lightly, he presses the back of his hand to Sephiroth's forehead.] You look like shit.
I can walk. I won't be fighting any behemoths again any time soon but..
[His smile is brief, though he's pleased to see someone he recognizes. Fighting shape, no. Actually able to leave? Hells yes, he's about to start chewing off his own arm.]
It's better than it looks. I heal quickly but blood loss takes more time. They don't want me to go if I can't reasonably fight off what's out there. Cruel Summer lives up to its namesake after all.
[Like he's going to say no. Actual magic, not materia, is endlessly fascinating. One is science, the other .. the other's been lost to the ages. Nobody can do real magic on his world.. well except for one or two, but for the most part!]
Sir, you can turn me into a frog if you want, as long as it's real magic.
Never learned that one, but all right... let me know if this has you feeling better.
[Tav pushes his sleeves up a little, places a hand on Sephiroth's shoulder, and his voice thrums with quiet energy as he speaks again.]
Te absolvo.
[The effect is immediate. A blue light swirls around Sephiroth, dancing over his skin like static for a moment before sinking in. The spell is one that Tav has used before to alleviate the after-effects of being bitten by a vampire and he's relatively confident it will work here too.]
[It's hard to repress the automatic flinch that comes from touch, as if he expects much worse than a light hand. Being perfectly aware that if Tav wanted to hurt him he wouldn't be bothering with any of this does not subdue a lifetime of experience well.
Every move he makes is watched, not with unease but rapt interest. He's not going to be forgetting that light, or the words, or the way the relentless tired weakness just eases in a way that standard medical care hadn't been able to do. Although Sephiroth's always been pale, there's at least some immediate return of color, however little it might be. Magic doesn't care about how long it takes to generate new red blood cells!]
... Yes. It ... almost feels like Esuna but not quite, and Esuna didn't do anything for it.
[The bard recognises that flinch for what it is and doesn't leave his hand in place for any longer than is necessary. He grins crookedly to the affirmative answer and straightens up, lightly tweaking his cuffs back down over his wrists.]
Lesser Restoration. Damn useful spell for minor nasties you might pick up in a fight.
[And the funny thing is... a grander spell simply wouldn't have cut it. That was for curses and the like, not something more physical.]
[As soon as he takes off the monitor, the machine protests shrilly, but he knows where the power button is and puts a stop to that immediately. Understanding why it was set up that way didn't make it any less annoying. From there it's just a matter of collecting a few items; escape was at hand, he's not lingering.]
Yes. If that worked as well as I think it did, if you'd like I can probably get us out of the desert reasonably quickly. I'm not the best at long distance flight but I manage.
[The perks of being a legend! ...Which Tav shares, but it's less obvious when wings aren't manifested.]
[Tav is, at this stage, pretty confident about his ability to talk them both out of the place despite the way Sephiroth abruptly detaches himself from the monitoring machine. Rather than scold he simply shakes his head with an amused smile and heads for the door, opening it to quickly check the corridor before he steps out.]
Don't worry about me, I got some wings I can use too.
[Tav cocks his head to indicate that the young man should follow.]
Gonna need you to do what I say until we're out. If we can get to the door without having to speak to anyone, that'll be best, but if anyone stops us let me do the talking.
[That made things simpler! Then he won't have to ask for his stuff to be held onto while he ferried them about, which .. had its inevitable downsides. What if things got dropped?
If there's one thing Sephiroth is good at at this stage in life, it's following directions. And dutifully, he follows.]
If it can be avoided, please don't ask me to kill anyone.
[He would. It probably wouldn't even be hard. But that might make things harder instead of easier. And that's apparently his only complaint!
There are people about. Mostly nurses here and there, the occasional patient.]
[They're reminiscent of what he knows as a deva, though some might think of as more like some kind of angel or celestial being. Tav doesn't mind them much one way or the other and they're kind of useful in any case, especially for times like this.]
Shouldn't need to kill anyone. If it's needed, you leave it to me. You're a kid, don't worry about shit like that.
[Oh, how little he knows.
Tav doesn't sneak around. He puts a hand against the back of Sephiroth's shoulders and walks confidently towards the exit. The half-drow has the air of someone who belongs there, someone who knows exactly what he's doing, someone who isn't to be questioned... and no one does question him. The perks of high advantages in performance and persuasion.]
[Which could lend to the lie! And it absolutely is a lie and he's okay with it, because it gets him what he wants: out. Although it's reassuring to know they probably won't have to kill anyone, there's a brief huffed laugh anyway.
That's his job. It's the only thing he's good for, the only thing he knows how to do. Age wasn't relevant!
They're definitely noticed though, and by several. Most are content to let them pass, there's some hidden power in acting like you know what you're doing and where you're going, everyone assumes it's true. The only exception is the strongly mothlike woman who's been Sephiroth's primary nurse through his stay, looking up from her desk in surprise. Her voice is pleasant, in stark contrast to her insectish appearance.]
[If there is one thing that Tav is confident about it's his ability to spin a tale and win people over by barely trying. He'd like to say it's all him, but even he would have to admit that his lineage plays into it in at least some small respect.
His confidence stays in place even as they're stopped, and he keeps his hand lightly against Sephiroth's back as he meets the nurse's query with a smile.]
Indeed he is! His recovery has progressed beyond expectations and he's been released into my care. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on him.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 10:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:19 pm (UTC)On the other hand. How do you feel about deceptions? Harmless, I promise.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:25 pm (UTC)He sees where this is going.]
Kid, if you're looking for someone to lie for you, you're talking to the right person.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:33 pm (UTC)[Bard privileges. Tav is a ridiculously skilled liar, with the caveat for catching him in the act being that someone has to even be aware they might be being lied to in the first place.]
But, cousin, sure. I'll head on over. Think I can get you feeling better as well as getting you out.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-11 11:35 pm (UTC)[..How old was Tav? He'd assumed low twenties somewhere.]
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Date: 2024-05-11 11:37 pm (UTC)[Surprise! But Sephiroth does have a point. He might be pushing it a little, especially if someone in the hospital is a little more aware than the average person...
Maybe brother would be better? He'll think of something appropriate.]
Audio to ... in person, and making stuff up as I go
Date: 2024-05-11 11:57 pm (UTC)[That's definitely old enough, but if he didn't look it, would it get questioned?
Getting past the front desk is easy for a bard that specializes in lying through their teeth; it's a fairly modern establishment, well lit and clean, with plenty of adventurers and would-be monster hunters turning up with all manner of injuries minor and major. The directions supplied are clear and easy to navigate, with convenient signage on the walls pointing this way or that.
Luck means Sephiroth has no roommates, and by now he's only on a standard life signs monitor, the origin of the faint background beeping. But he's learned years ago how to do things even tethered to one of those, and he can probably be forgiven if he's dressed and waiting, sitting on the edge of the bed. He's far paler than last time they met, and his jacket's full of ominous little holes, but it's clean, and the nondescript black teeshirt has no similar holes. It's good enough. He's alert, he's awake, he's not about to suddenly collapse.
At least the room doesn't look like a sterile lab room, it's meant for longer stays, with actual wood paneling and a window with a decent view of the desert.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:03 am (UTC)Hey.
[He slips into the room, closing the door behind him, and there's a small flicker of concern as he immediately sees how pale the teenager looks.]
Hells, you sure you can be walking out of here? [Lightly, he presses the back of his hand to Sephiroth's forehead.] You look like shit.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:06 am (UTC)[His smile is brief, though he's pleased to see someone he recognizes. Fighting shape, no. Actually able to leave? Hells yes, he's about to start chewing off his own arm.]
It's better than it looks. I heal quickly but blood loss takes more time. They don't want me to go if I can't reasonably fight off what's out there. Cruel Summer lives up to its namesake after all.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:09 am (UTC)[Tav pauses. Thinks. He lets out a soft hum.]
How'd you feel about me using magic on you? A restoration spell.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:14 am (UTC)[Like he's going to say no. Actual magic, not materia, is endlessly fascinating. One is science, the other .. the other's been lost to the ages. Nobody can do real magic on his world.. well except for one or two, but for the most part!]
Sir, you can turn me into a frog if you want, as long as it's real magic.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:24 am (UTC)Never learned that one, but all right... let me know if this has you feeling better.
[Tav pushes his sleeves up a little, places a hand on Sephiroth's shoulder, and his voice thrums with quiet energy as he speaks again.]
Te absolvo.
[The effect is immediate. A blue light swirls around Sephiroth, dancing over his skin like static for a moment before sinking in. The spell is one that Tav has used before to alleviate the after-effects of being bitten by a vampire and he's relatively confident it will work here too.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:35 am (UTC)Every move he makes is watched, not with unease but rapt interest. He's not going to be forgetting that light, or the words, or the way the relentless tired weakness just eases in a way that standard medical care hadn't been able to do. Although Sephiroth's always been pale, there's at least some immediate return of color, however little it might be. Magic doesn't care about how long it takes to generate new red blood cells!]
... Yes. It ... almost feels like Esuna but not quite, and Esuna didn't do anything for it.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:39 am (UTC)Lesser Restoration. Damn useful spell for minor nasties you might pick up in a fight.
[And the funny thing is... a grander spell simply wouldn't have cut it. That was for curses and the like, not something more physical.]
All right, you ready to go?
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:46 am (UTC)Yes. If that worked as well as I think it did, if you'd like I can probably get us out of the desert reasonably quickly. I'm not the best at long distance flight but I manage.
[The perks of being a legend! ...Which Tav shares, but it's less obvious when wings aren't manifested.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 12:51 am (UTC)Don't worry about me, I got some wings I can use too.
[Tav cocks his head to indicate that the young man should follow.]
Gonna need you to do what I say until we're out. If we can get to the door without having to speak to anyone, that'll be best, but if anyone stops us let me do the talking.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 01:30 am (UTC)[That made things simpler! Then he won't have to ask for his stuff to be held onto while he ferried them about, which .. had its inevitable downsides. What if things got dropped?
If there's one thing Sephiroth is good at at this stage in life, it's following directions. And dutifully, he follows.]
If it can be avoided, please don't ask me to kill anyone.
[He would. It probably wouldn't even be hard. But that might make things harder instead of easier. And that's apparently his only complaint!
There are people about. Mostly nurses here and there, the occasional patient.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-24 09:33 pm (UTC)[They're reminiscent of what he knows as a deva, though some might think of as more like some kind of angel or celestial being. Tav doesn't mind them much one way or the other and they're kind of useful in any case, especially for times like this.]
Shouldn't need to kill anyone. If it's needed, you leave it to me. You're a kid, don't worry about shit like that.
[Oh, how little he knows.
Tav doesn't sneak around. He puts a hand against the back of Sephiroth's shoulders and walks confidently towards the exit. The half-drow has the air of someone who belongs there, someone who knows exactly what he's doing, someone who isn't to be questioned... and no one does question him. The perks of high advantages in performance and persuasion.]
Almost out. Just keep your eyes forwards.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-24 11:39 pm (UTC)[Which could lend to the lie! And it absolutely is a lie and he's okay with it, because it gets him what he wants: out. Although it's reassuring to know they probably won't have to kill anyone, there's a brief huffed laugh anyway.
That's his job. It's the only thing he's good for, the only thing he knows how to do. Age wasn't relevant!
They're definitely noticed though, and by several. Most are content to let them pass, there's some hidden power in acting like you know what you're doing and where you're going, everyone assumes it's true. The only exception is the strongly mothlike woman who's been Sephiroth's primary nurse through his stay, looking up from her desk in surprise. Her voice is pleasant, in stark contrast to her insectish appearance.]
Oh, you're being discharged already?
no subject
Date: 2024-05-28 09:37 pm (UTC)His confidence stays in place even as they're stopped, and he keeps his hand lightly against Sephiroth's back as he meets the nurse's query with a smile.]
Indeed he is! His recovery has progressed beyond expectations and he's been released into my care. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on him.
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