fonic_sight | fourth mystic arte • {video}

[This is Jade. Jade is, surprisingly enough, in a hospital gown, looking uncharacteristically displeased with his current predicament. However, he is here to report on his findings, and report he shall.]

So a recent experiment has led me to the conclusion that one, indeed, does not perish upon mortal injury on this planet. Much like the creatures themselves, the humans and other inhabitants have inherited this similar ability... However, I've been assured that breaking of bones and other injuries do not have those same qualities to be healed with a potion or healing arte, much to anyone's dismay...

[So he didn't break his arm, at least. But that leads him into a small sigh, straightening a little in the bed. Honestly, he's sure he's fine now but he's too comfortable to get up.]

With that out of the way, I've noticed that a certain red-headed troublemaker by the name of Luke fon Fabre does not seem to be with us anymore. It's for the better, honestly, seeing as he was a little... unique. ['Special snowflake', is more like it, but Jade's being as close to nice as he can get for someone who just died. He shrugs his shoulders lightly, a small smile on his face. Secretly, he is glad Luke has returned home, but it is very secret.]

Unfortunately, not much else to report. I think I shall conclude here.

[Private to Dist]
Also, Saphir, when you're available, you wouldn't mind making a run to the library in this city, would you? Seeing as you've been here so long to become a Goldenrod expert, I'll need a bit of assistance. [Also known as 'come visit me, bring me a book, Jade is bored'.]

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[After selecting a book, Jade wiggles it from the middle of the stack and sets it in his lap, though a finger just traces the edge of a cover as he watches Dist. He really does look bothered by it, and that distant look in his eyes is definitely bothering him.]

It shouldn't bother you at all. I'm alive and well, as you can see. And that reduces any concern you need to have at the current moment.

Unless you'd like to witness what I've been through to feel completely assured of your own immortality here? [A joking threat, but one nonetheless. He tears his eyes away and back to the book in his hand, flipping the cover open. But even then, he's not very focused on it.]

[Shocked and possibly appalled, Dist glares in Jade's direction. Apparently he's not taking that threat well.]

Jade, I am personally offended that you think that is all I am concerned about right now.

[Let's be real, he'd probably survive it even without the whole "impossible to die here" thing anyway.]

I am far more concerned about the fact that you attempted to take your own life in the first place. Believe it or not, I do not like the possibility that you could have actually died.

[THERE, HE SAID IT. And it took a lot of hesitation to say it.]

[About time. Seems like it only took a bit of provoking to get Dist to sing like a canary. But Jade finally turns his attention fully away from that book and more to the old companion before him.]

So that's it... [He sighed, shaking his head.] The possibility was at zero, Saphir. I returned, as expected. The inquiry was solved, and I'm still right here before you, aren't I?

[His tone becomes shaky.]

Yet knowing that probability, you attempted it anyway. Do you understand where I'm coming from here? Why did you even want to test it in the first place? It couldn't have been just for curiosity's sake.

[He's seriously over-thinking this, isn't he.]

[This just has Jade sighing.]

Calm down, Saphir. It's done now. No use dwelling over an experiment that didn't go wrong; you'd go nowhere with that line of thinking.

[He bites his lip. Jade does have a point, but at the same time he's trying to evade Dist's questions and it's becoming really aggravating.

He persists,]

I will calm down when you stop this nonsense and actually explain yourself.

[So nowhere thinking it is. As much as he doesn't want to bother with the explanation, he knows Dist is going to work himself into an aneurysm, which would just give him a headache. So he takes a deep breath and looks at him.]

The only hypothesis was: what happens in twenty-four hours of nothingness in this world? If a false death causes one to awaken a full day later, what occurs within that day? Procedure came to be: after intentional overdose on a common sleep-aid found in the Marts, under the chemical name Eszopiclone, I turned in for the night. The results: somewhat inconclusive. The twenty-four hours were of absolutely nothing. While it didn't go as expected, an answer was reached.

That was it.

[He flips a book's page, but he's no longer interested in reading, just distracting himself as he waits for Dist's reaction. It's been a long time since he's had an experiment like this, and even longer since his old friend has been upset with him over it.]

[Believe it or not, the explanation actually satisfies Dist for the most part. In all of his blind rage over this event, he had forgotten about that detail of wait time after "death" in this world. Also, for the first time he can tell Jade isn't hiding any extra information about it from him. It's no secret that he and Jade have a very different concept of death from most people, but he was worried that his friend had an ulterior reason for attempting to off himself. That doesn't appear to be the case. It's far from perfect, but it'll do.

He finally appears to loosen up a bit, allowing himself to sit less rigid.]

Absolutely nothing happened?

[He figures the best way to show he's letting this go is to engage in the explanation. That, and he's genuinely interested. He wishes he doesn't have to be hearing it from Jade, but there's not much that can be done about that.]

[Oddly enough, when Dist relaxes in the chair, Jade finds himself feeling a bit more at ease. He hadn't thought that Dist's wound-up attitude would have impacted him as it had, but he's a little annoyed by it. Their little time spent here is just drawing them a little closer again, and Jade isn't sure he appreciates it.

But he does appreciate the fact that his old classmate isn't flipping out anymore, so he just decides to answer the question.]

Those twenty-four hours didn't exist.

[His brow furrows in thought. He knows this world is utterly ridiculous, but there has to be an explanation for something this bizarre.]

Did you wake up here? Perhaps you were simply unconscious the entire time and someone found you.

I considered that as well, but it didn't seem as likely unless the nurses here had a seventh fonist, or the healing ability of this world that would have allowed me to recover fully within a day.

[He shrugs.] I feel like I'll need to interview the nurses.

That is a fair point. It would be difficult to fully recover from such an overdose in that amount of time. How strange...

[This world is truly astounding.]

Yes, I would do that. It could help us piece this together.

I'm more or less certain that the day that passed was used to restore my condition to its finest.

[And with that, Jade just smiles coldly.]

Glad you volunteered, Saphir.

[He didn't even realize he used "us" just then. Whoops, slip of the tongue.

He attempts to make a quick recover, like he meant it all along.]

I may as well since you took the time to give me all of the details.

[He nods. It's the closest Dist will get to a thanks, before the Necromancer turns back to the book in his lap. But before he begins to read, he pauses for one more question.]

Did you have anything else to ask or have I laid your concerns to rest?

No, I believe we can end that subject for now. I'm...

["Sorry for overreacting"? No, he can't bring himself to say that, because he still believes he has every right to be angered by what Jade did.]

... glad your attempt was unsuccessful.

[Yes, that was so much better.]

[With a small smirk, he nods. He understands that quite well.]

I appreciate it. Though I can't imagine you'd miss me had it worked.

[Back to fucking with you, Dist.]

fourth mystic arte • {video}

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