ic inbox/contact

[spryite]

ID: Jude Mathis
journal text (handwriting sample) | action

Comments

Sender: 76 | around the middle of November

[steadypulse]

A friend and I have stumbled across a type of flower that he believes may be of interest to you for study. It appears to have an affect on Noctaere- or at least whatever part of one may be currently possessing a person; if you've spoken with one Kazuma Asogi you may know what I'm speaking of and who said friend is.

Their presence seems to be unpleasant, even repulsive, and when crushed appear to calm to bring back around to the person's right mind. Even if this has only been tested on one person so far.

I have a few that I can deliver to you, should you wish to actually examine them.

[spryite]

[Jude's spoken to Kazuma - or at least, they've written to each other. But considering the other man's situation and his understandable reluctance over the whole affair, Jude decides against making any acknowledgement on paper towards the name.]

That's an amazing find, I'd appreciate it! I can come meet you too, whichever may be more convenient for you. Are there more of these flowers out in the wild?

[Plus, that conversation the other day did remind him he should have someone more knowledgeable review the notes he's put together so far. This seems like a good opportunity, and meeting the helpful "76" in person was probably overdue too.]

[steadypulse]

[Kazuma brought up this guy's name, and honestly that was all he needed to contact him as asked with what they'd found during this outing after spending a few days out deep in the woods.]

I can, yes. I'm currently out in the Wildlands, but I can come much closer to town as that may be the safest bet. There are, but for now the largest amount of them appears to be guarded by a few large and potentially dangerous creatures.

Can talk more about it in person, easier. Just tell me a place you're familiar with and I can get there, been here long enough to know my way.

[spryite]

[The result of this particular expedition someone else had undertaken may serve as a wake-up call to him, too. Maybe it's time he stops only keeping his nose buried in papers/sticking to the tapirs' simulation dreamscape, and actually go out there to do some field study for a change himself?...]

The environment they grow in may be helpful to study too, I can also fight and heal. I'd like to take a look at their natural habitat where you found them in sooner or later, there may be more clues we can uncover. Would it still be more convenient to meet at the edge of town?

[Maybe he's being hasty and presumptuous, but if 76 managed to find some of these flowers today, then that may also mean the area he's in right now is likely clear of monsters for the time being, wouldn't it? Gotta strike while the iron's hot, he just needs to make sure he can handle himself.]

[steadypulse]

Makes sense. Better than asking you to try and meet out here, yeah. I can lead you to the place Kazuma and I found them in, since it's easy to get turned around this far in if you don't know the way. Will make it a quicker walk if you'd like to get a look now.

I've got the time.

[76 had been spending the majority of his time out here since bringing Kazuma, making sure he was alright. This was a chance discovery, thanks to Kazuma spending time tracking that herd of deer.]

Your call.

[spryite]

Then please, I'd like to tag along with you for a look myself. Which direction would you be coming back to town from, M. 76? I can at least start heading out that way.

[Grab his gauntlets, a few couple of notebooks, containers for soil and other flora samples... There isn't much in the way of tools in Songerein, but he can still get some things ready relatively quickly before heading out for the town's outskirts.]

action; dream board job 1204; backdated to 12/15

[ragingscoopaholic]

[Was Jude hoping for privacy? Because he's not getting any. Leia abruptly throws open the door to his house and immediately makes eye contact with him, where ever he is. The reason for her entrance soon becoming clear. And she sure sounds more than a little put out, with a tone that suggests he better think carefully before responding.]

Okay, Jude! What's the big idea putting up a dream board job and not telling me about it? You were trying to hide it from me, weren't you!

[Her appearance suggests that she not only found said job, but she took it. With her is a bag, but probably more pressing to Jude is her current state. It looks like she was tossed around in the dirt, she's got it on her clothes, streaked across her face. Then there's the more telltale signs of a tussle; the bits of torn clothing, bruises, a few scrapes here and there. With one scrape in particular down her leg, a wider gash that's still bleeding a little.]

[spryite]

[...oh no.

Oh No.

Well Leia is catching her childhood nerd friend in his natural habitat: hunched at his desk with several notebooks opened and covering it, while there seems to be a variety of rocks and plants among the paperwork too.]

L-Leia?!

[Oh No...]

N-no I wasn't! [She just jumped him, so this means that as tradition, the only thing he can do is cow immediately get on the defensive.] The board is public, why would anyone post secrets on it?

[He's scrambling out of his chair to stand and take a hesitant step towards her anyway, seemingly caught between fight or flight getting closer to her or backing away.

--Actually no, he wavers like dried up autumn leaf pitifully hanging by a thread from an already shed tree for just a few seconds, and as noticeable as the pause was, he still finds his feet pulling him up to Leia's side. The last few years sure did do wonders for his backbone, willing to risk her (violent and painful) wrath For The Greater Good...]

More importantly, are you hurt?

[ragingscoopaholic]

[He knows very well what she means, and her glare says it all. One can't post secrets on the dream board, but he was totally hoping she wouldn't look. That's the feeling she gets, anyway. Because it sounds like classic Jude.]

I'm just fine! But, seriously, you can always ask me to help you out too, you know. Posting it to the dream board and not telling me just makes it look like you're trying to hide it so I don't do it myself and get hurt.

[And yet, it sure seems she got a little banged up. She's definitely been in a fight, but that's besides the point. Point is that she can take care of herself. And Jude is the only person here from their world- she wants to help him. Which isn't to say he can't ask others, but a little heads help and him coming to her personally while tossing it up on the board would've been nice.]

[spryite]

[That's-- NOT, how it-- ok but no if he was really trying to hide something from Leia does she REALLY think he'd just-- like, drop it out wide in the open? With his OWN name attached to boot? The board is communal by nature, and--

????

Well however he's trying to justify debrief this in his own head, it's clearly a mistake he's made, so he's just gonna groan out loud and palm his face for a beat before trying to focus his attention back onto her. She's not gonna listen to him no matter how much he tries explaining, isn't she? Rhetorical question at this point, sure, but still...]

Sorry for not mentioning it to you, I... didn't think you'd be interested. [Did he do that? Just go off on his own and assume what her interests may be for her? M-maybe, but. It's not like Leia is REALLY deeply invested in Noctaeres, is she? Maybe reasonably concerned about them as a Songerein threat like everyone else who's heard of them, but surely no more than that? Since her main motivator is something he's still none the wiser about, can he really be blamed for this painful miscalculation? ...Yes? It's totally his fault? Sigh...] ...You could've just talked to me too, you know. [Grumbled under his breath while he briefly avoids eye contact, and motoring right on--]

I posted it on the board because this is something far bigger than just the two of us, so the more people I can talk to and compare notes with, the more comprehensive our results may be. I did fail to warn about the potential risks, so that's on me, but that wouldn't have discouraged you either, now would it?

[Which puts him in this position now: awkwardly hovering/eyeing her while not doing anything, because there isn't much he CAN do unless she's upfront about her lingering injuries. Leia... 😔]

[ragingscoopaholic]

[Maybe he hadn't been deliberately trying to keep it a secret, but the point is he could've gone to her while posting it. They're friends, right? They're both new here, and she's the only person he knows here. Relying on each other is just common sense- at least to her. As for her main motivator? She's been trying to hone her dreamotion combat skills to be more efficient when dealing with whatever this place might throw at them. Having people that can fight is important, and she wants to get stronger. Wants to protect people.

Aside from that, she's been helping out other shops by getting them materials, things needed for rebuilding. It's not the job that she's used to, but it's what is necessary here. And, above all, helping out the community is what's important. Much like Jude's own research will eventually be beneficial to everyone here.

In any case, he's missing the point. Exasperating, but not surprising. Especially when she, herself, can have trouble communicating her feelings too. His words deflate her annoyance, and she tries again to say what she means.]

Jeez! Like I said, I don't care that it was posted to the board, but a heads up would've been nice. We're both stuck here together, so don't get so hung up on whether you think I'd be Interested or not.

[That. That's what she is trying to say. That it's okay to rely on her, that she wants to help him because this is something she can actually help with. Not like back at home where they are both swamped in their own careers and he's got his own team to help him out, but here. Now. She can try her best to assist him because for the first time in years, they're both in the same predicament and everyone is working towards a common goal.

Of course she doesn't say that much and instead uses that stern tone to try to get her point across. But whatever.

Sighing, she holds the bag out for him to take.]

Here--

[Inside the bag he will find a pincer from the noctaere she fought and a blackened flower. Both emanating this dark essence.]

Kinda stumbled across a noctaere while I was out looking for stuff. But I managed a pretty good haul for my first time out.

1/2

[spryite]

[He sure is, he sure is... They both had their separate professional lives back home, and that was simply that. Is it because she no longer has the same job keeping her busy here? Or simply the differences apart accrued by the 8 months she's spent outside of their home world with him being none the wiser?

...Suppose the details don't matter. She clearly wants to help, he can see that now, and in their teen wisdom, neither of them bothered talking to the other about their intentions. He kinda misses everyone else in times like these; maybe Rowen would have some helpful life advice for him, if he only could contact the Conductor now.]

...I'm sorry. I'll ask you about it first, next time.

[He repeats the apology meekly in the end, rubbing the back of his neck while staring at his feet. Accepting help sure is a whole different beast from offering it, huh? He thought he wasn't bad at it, spoke to several people the past few weeks about the topic already even, but for it to come back and bite him like this with a close friend he cares about, their only remaining connection back to Rieze Maxia and Elympios...]

[spryite]

[--And then she thrusts the bag into his face. He can tell before she even starts explaining, the reaction from one of the trinkets he's working on in his pocket already cooling in response.

...]

Thank you, Leia. ["Stumbled", she says. Yeah alright. But he's not about to argue with her, not after having already apologized twice.] And you're... okay? [He's accepting the bag, but also back to scrutinizing her again. "Okay" is what she claims to be, and he's just confirming it, so maybe that'll risk flaring her up less than if he were to straight up ask if she's sure she's not hurt or needs medical attention?]

Sender: Kazuma Asogi | Middle of December

[chippedsoul]

Hello Dr. Mathis. I'm messaging you, because I have something that may help with your research into Noctaere. If you're wondering, I'm doing much better since our last encounter.

I had gathered and stored some of the scales from that form I had taken, as they are imbued with noctaere energy. If you like them, just tell me where we should meet and I'll give some to you.

[spryite]

[The timing of Kazuma's message is uncanny, and reading it instills him with relief and guilt. He should've reached out first considering what he's managed to get working so far; it may not be much, but it was still something. Having gotten busier after speaking to several other people who've taken interest in what he's put up on the Dreamboard since the start of the month is no excuse, and he knows it. ...No sense dwelling on it too much, he supposes; if he does feel bad, then the only thing he can and should do is rectify the situation ASAP.]

Hello, M. Asogi. It's a relief to hear you're doing better, and I would be thankful to have the scales. I have some progress to report and show you too, I apologize that I haven't been able to contact you sooner. Is there any place you may prefer or want to avoid? I can head out anywhere immediately.

[chippedsoul]

It's all right. I haven't exactly made it easy to reach me for some time anyway. [He didn't even have his journal the whole time he was playing in the forest. In his current state, he would rather avoid crowded places. So perhaps the best place is...]

The forest, your place or mine. I currently have an unused spaced beneath my home we can discuss things.

[spryite]

[The teen takes one look around his room study.

...Setting aside the stacks of papers and notebooks and minerals and jars and monster parts and etc (--they're organized, really, at least enough so that not everything is jumbled together--), his well-meaning but nosy childhood friend also lives practically next door and is prone to bursting into his place unannounced. Jude's gotten used to the impromptu visits, but a meeting with Kazuma is NOT something he figures either of them would appreciate being interrupted during.]

Your place would be best to talk, though we may head out to the forest after if you'd like a clearer demonstration of what I have. Where do I come meet you?

[He's lowkey expecting a public building or town landmark that doesn't describe wherever Kazuma's actually living at, the older man did feel like he may be cautious and wary enough to not want to put personal details of any sort down in writing over the journals. ...But Jude may also just be overthinking things; he should go get his own things instead in the meanwhile.]

[chippedsoul]

[A demonstration...?] Then perhaps we should just go to the forest. I know a place we can meet.

[He actually should check up on the smaller patch of glowing dawn flowers he and 76 had setup anyway. He'll go ahead and jot down directions and what landmarks to look out for. Simple enough directions of following the river until he reaches a clearing with some glowing dawn flowers. They're not as vibrant as the ones in the caves, but they're surviving. Some covering had been setup just to keep the snow off them.

Kazuma will be there waiting, sitting on a stump and looking over a journal. He also wearing a cloak, not subtly hiding a snake's tail slipping out underneath. His eyes also hadn't quite return to the normal dark grayish black, still a pale golden yellow. There were still some scale growths clinging to his skin as well, most of it hidden out of view thanks to his clothes. At least he's a lot less giant creature and more human.]

3/1 You know what this is about text

[refire]

Hey, Jude. Sorry to contact you so suddenly but this is an emergency.

Do you have any medications for butt pains? I'm asking for a friend.

[ this is AN EMERGENCY]

closes my eyes and pretends i'm not complicit

[spryite]

[





butt.]

That depends on the cause of the pain, Alphen. Do you know what's causing it?

[why does he have such a FOREBODING feeling about this???]

God we are really doing this

[refire]

Indigestion and likely constipation.

I'm really concerned about it. My friend stays in the bathroom for hours at a time. It's the butt pains that are worrying.

[ Maybe Alphen needs to stop feeding Law so much spice.]

it sure is happening...

[spryite]

[.............Alphen,]

We should have something for that, but more importantly, what has your friend been eating? They haven't always had stomach problems all their lives after every meal, have they?

[Dr. Jude Mathis, honors student alumni of Fennmont's famed Talim Medical Academy and lead research scientist into spyrite tech at the Helioborg Research Laboratories, refuses to write out BUTT on the journal if he can help it,]

Help

[refire]

Meat. They've been eating lots of meat and won't touch vegetables.

I've been trying to get them to eat more balanced meals but it seems to always turn out this way. No, I don't think they always have stomach problems.

What's going on? Do you have any idea why it causes so much agony in the butt?

[ #lawsbutt problems ]

action (clinic); [ backdated late feb-ish ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato feels a little out of place. The last time she'd visited the clinic, it wasn't finished yet. She doesn't know if she'll find anyone else at the front desk or anything, like other nurses, doctors, volunteers, but either way, it seems quiet as she walks in with a bouquet of blue flowers in her hand. It is tied together by a pink ribbon and attached is a note that reads:

Dr Jude Mathis,
Thank you again for your tips on healing dreamotion. It was very insightful. - Susato Mikotoba

. . . It feels impersonal, and normally she would go into more detail, but she doesn't feel like they are her details to tell. Because of that, she is going to leave the bouquet on the counter and quietly turn to leave. ]

3/6, backdated

[zephyrean]

[Jude had expressed curiosity in how Alphen managed to burn himself in the past. Unfortunately for the young doctor, an incident occurred that was going to grant him his wish.

Law suddenly comes barreling into the clinic, Alphen's charbroiled, well-done body slung over his shoulder. He quickly and loudly calls out, hoping somebody, anybody is present.]

Hey!! We need a doctor here, stat!

[He starts looking around frantically for an open bed to throw Alphen's body on.]