(Where Fears and Lies Melt Away)

[ktotheatothez]

{OUR SANCTUARY}

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[bladeweaver]

[He's pulling the little brother card, he so is. Not that he has a problem with that. It's been a long time since they hung out. It's time to catch up, ask him how he is, that kinda thing. Over video games. Hopefully.]

SENT: 10:13 AM
Okay. Have you breakfasted? I could pick up food on the way.

[ktotheatothez]

[It's at that moment that Kaz's stomach gives an almighty growl. He's hungry.]

SENT: 10:15 AM
Yeah, breakfast would be good. I'm famished.

[bladeweaver]

[He arrives with breakfast for four, because these are the two biggest eaters on the blade we're talking about. It's just McD's, but it's several breakfast sets and, well, McD's breakfast is a good breakfast.

He yells in the general direction of the rest of the pad.]

Yo Kaz! I'm here, food's here, have at it!

[ktotheatothez]

Yes! Food!

[You've seen your younger bro wolf down food before, Taning. It shouldn't surprise you that he goes for the hash browns first when he rebounds off the banister and grabs the food from you, jumping onto the couch as he does so.]

How'd it go with the misis?

[Yeah, no, it's never too early for this.]

[bladeweaver]

[Taning literally chokes on a piece of sausage he almost snorted up his nose. Only quick thinking (magicking the piece in his nose into air) saved him the ignominy of having Kaz be the one to Heimlich him, thus having both handed him his cake and made him eat it.

He glares at the kid, before dissolving into helpless laughter. What the hell, that's probably where it's headed.]

Gago ka talaga, Kaz. Also, she's fine, we're fine, although that is debatable in my case. Thyrsus mages can squeeze.

[Bahala ka na what you'll think that means, boy.]

[ktotheatothez]

[He grins, and crunches the hash browns. It's good to know they're okay.]

Mmh, I'll bet they can.

[Yeah, he's throwing innuendo at you like it's nothing.]

[bladeweaver]

I swear I will need some time to get used to you guys talking about my sex life.

[Was a private person, ayup. Y'all broke him, ayup.

Anyway, he then remembers that Kaz asked him over for a reason. So naturally, he asks it through a mouthful of scrambled eggs and sausage.]

Whasshu want me here fur?

[ktotheatothez]

[Kaz shrugs. Sex isn't something he's uncomfortable discussing, like at all. But then he remembers why he actually called you here.]

Well, you know how Josh could create a space to store his... Um... Plasm? Yeah. Plasm. I was wondering if we could do that for you too, y'know, have a mana font or something here for you.

[bladeweaver]

[As a matter of fact, Taning had already been thinking about that.]

Yeah, I've been meaning to tell you that I plan to, uh, appropriate a part of the loft, with your permission. Mana likes really high places, you see, and I checked: this place is a veritable hotbed of magic. Apparently it also stands on a ley node? But yeah. Would you help me with it?

[ktotheatothez]

[If he were an actual puppy, his tail would be wagging. Score!]

Well, I'm no Mage but I can totally help with whatever else you need. Hey wait what's this about a ley node?

sorry about this

[bladeweaver]

I need a human sacrifice.

[Deadpan, absolutely deadpan.]

[ktotheatothez]

[Grin to lineface in .2 milliseconds, wow Taning, that's a record even for Kaz.]

Kung kailangan na virgin pa yung sacrifice, di ako pwede.

[He looks dead serious, but that cracks in about 2 seconds before he does fall over, cackling madly.]

There's no way a Hallow would require human sacrifice, Kuya. Sorry, I may not be smart like you or Josh but even I would know that. [Natch]

[bladeweaver]

[Okay he can't help it, he'll be collapsing on the couch in laughter. What, his own jokes crack him up.]

Hassle ka naman eh. Haha, anyway, no, no sacrifices needed, virgin or not. I do need these crystals, some thaumium, and a small satellite dish. The crystals and the thaumium I bought from this dude in a back alley, so we're good there... can I borrow your TV sat dish? I promise I won't break it.

[ktotheatothez]

[Have an eyeroll, Taning.]

Grabe ka, kuya. Only you could make a project like this sound so sketchy.

[bladeweaver]

[Heeeeey.]

Just trust me on this, kidbro, are you lending it or not?

[This will be look far cooler than its sketchy-sounding-ness would indicate, man.]

[ktotheatothez]

[Kaz is squinting at your sketchiness, Taning.]

Fine. But you break it, I tell Sabina.

[Not that he knows her well, or that he knows what she would do if he did something like that -- but it works.]

[bladeweaver]

Don't do that, I'm not gonna break it.

[His face is the face of a well-whipped man being threatened with more spousal abuse.]

Follow me up to the dish? I'll show you what I'm gonna do so you don't find it so sketchy, you distrustful boy.

[ktotheatothez]

[ He puffs out his cheeks, because he does trust you, Taning. He trusts that half the things you do are sketchy, and the other half is for the lols. ]

Okay, c'mon, then.

[ There's a playful grin on his face, though as he goes up onto the roof. You should know that one: there is a pool; two: there are many dishes. ]

[bladeweaver]

[As you both make it up to the roof, Taning spots the numerous dishes and whistles appreciatively. This one likes technology, ayup.

He'll make a beeline for the one at the highest spot on the roof. He Forces Sight-s that thing all the way down to... perfect, a wi-fi repeater near his room.

He's already unpacking the raw thaumium and shaping it with magic; making, one, a very thin plate in the exact contour of the sat dish, and two, a gild for two very long, thin fiber optic tubes.]

Can I borrow this one instead? It's for the signal repeater near my room, right?

[ktotheatothez]

Mmh, yeah sure. Don't blame me if you can't play video games in your room later though.

[ He's watching you with badly hidden curiosity, Taning. ]

[bladeweaver]

Great, thanks!

[From this point, it's easy. He adds two jacks to the back of the dish, and then he applies the plate to the dish itself. He makes it so that some of the thamium reshapes itself into the jacks, then attaches both tubes to the jacks. Then he makes two tiny holes beneath the dish, concentrates visibly, and walks all the way down to a spot on the roofdeck proper.

The tubes then slither their way down into the holes.]

And we're almost done! Wanna follow me down to the room so you could do the honors? This is your place, after all!

[ktotheatothez]

Do the honors?

[ Kid's got his head cocked to the side and a questioning look on his face. His glance does follow you when you start on your way down with a shrug. ]

[bladeweaver]

[For an answer, he hands you the two tubes that have snaked themselves down into the two tiny holes in the wall in his room, and gestures to the ports on the mechanistic-looking altar that he has put up right in front of it, after he had put the crystals on it and muttered a quick incantation.]

Yep. Do the honors. Don't worry, it's not gonna explode.

[He thinks, anyhow. A quick Celestial Telescope check of the arrangement confirms that.]

[ktotheatothez]

So... What do? Is there a button? Is it voice activated?

[ And in his best attempt at an Aladdin impression: ]

O-PEN SE-SA-MEEEE!

[bladeweaver]

[He laughs out loud at that, terribly amused. But he'll humor you.

The tubes float out of your hands and connect to the two ports on the back of the altar.

At first it looks like nothing's happening, save for a quick and faint blink of light. He actually worries for a moment, before he feels the energy get unblocked. Then he crosses his arms and waits for the fireworks.

When it comes, it takes the form, first, of a steadily intensifying glow that starts off fainter than an LED light, then rapidly grows brighter until it covers the entire room with dazzlingly bright light that, nevertheless, doesn't hurt the eyes.

When it settles down, and because the mana source can tell who the mage who untapped it is, the light seems to have congealed into an aura surrounding the crystals with a comfortable glow, from which one could feel a steady hum akin to that felt near high-voltage power lines. The glow itself looks, upon closer inspection, to be what appears to be what it would look like should every natural force collide, but on a much smaller scale. Forked lightning bolts end in tips of curling flame, which lick upward and are then sucked downward by tiny gravity wells, which are then blown apart by unseen kinetic force, and so on.

It is very nice to look at.]

Thanks for letting me have one, kidbro.

[ktotheatothez]

That is so cool.

[ Have that 'ooh, shiny' look on his face. ]

So this is a mana fount? S'that all it can recharge?

[bladeweaver]

[He sadfaces at you, because yes.]

Yep, sorry about that... Well, we have Brig to be our charger, anyway! Sorry I can't help you about Vaizard stuff. I like Elaine, but not THAT much.

[ktotheatothez]

That's okay. It's all about having faith that I can make the Benediction work...

[ He smiles and looks at it. ]

It looks awesome.