damnbrosius

[damnbrosius]

Beautiful mood for those ajisai (hydrangea) and umbrellas shots celebrating Tsuyu (rainy season)

[damnbrosius]

In answer, more smoke coalesces into similar, smaller shapes, which retain their frame even as the original is allowed to dissipate. Ambrosius was fully capable of creating life, and while anything he made was bound to disappear with the staff's next usage, that rule didn't matter at all with regard to anything that succeeded it. Somewhere out there is the proof of this.

"With the right ideas, anything is possible." he firmly states. "The only real hard limit is that you can't manifest destruction. Within those terms, if you can figure out a temporary fix, you can figure out a permanent one, too."

The smoke is allowed to flow freely again, and Ambrosius parts his hands, leaning back to hover at shoulder level near James, keeping a careful eye on his expression.

"I know that the threat of Salem adds a bit of urgency to every day, in an already stressful environment. One important thing is to not give in to despair. It makes her stronger, we both know that."

A flower. It was beautiful, as were all Ambrosius' creations, but James stared at it with an empty gaze. Flowers won't help defeat Salem.

Then it hit him what it was.

"Is it… not disappearing?" Insinctively the reached to touch the flower. "Is it going to dissolve as soon as you disappear or is it something entirely else?"

It was strange, but it was giving him hope. It meant there could be solutions. There could be things that were possible to achieve, despite initially they seem out of reach.

Maybe there was a way a defeat Salem.

[damnbrosius]

"Even if I could create a weapon, I wouldn't. It's against the rules, and my nature." Ambrosius answered simply.

There are abundant solutions he could suggest to end the Salem issue in a very immediate fashion, but he knows James will have thought of some of them already and why he hasn't spoken up about them: because none would be practical unless they could be permanent, and none could be permanent unless it meant locking him away again. He deeply appreciates that this, so far, isn't an option, even if it's as likely to be due to pragmatism as it was affection.

But not for nothing is he called the embodiment of creativity. He can't necessarily think of practical solutions to dispose of Salem at this very minute, but he does know a few ways to get around certain stipulations, if the mind was right.

In answer, he puts his hand forward, and pulls the smoke around him into a small shape, recognizable as a blossoming flower. It was totally possible to create self-propagating materials that wouldn't vanish beyond the first iteration. It was just a matter of knowing the specifics and what you were going to do with it. It's a math problem that they don't have time to solve right now, but it's something to keep in mind.

(Something to give James hope that there is a solution to this problem within their eventual grasp.)

"I don't understand what should I do about it." Of course according to James' ever growing long list of problems to handle in the kingdom, they were all doomed. More or less. Total collapse it will surely be, as greedy shits prevent him from trying to re-establish communication or prepare properly for hordes of Grimm to come.

"I don't think there's anything even you could possibly create to defeat an immortal. Creating any kind of mass destruction weapon maybe would work, but it too would be a temporary solution as apparently she is able to retreat, create more Grimm and attack another time. Besides, how do we construct a weapon that kills only Grimms? How to make it safe for people? There's no good solutions." He groaned and sunk into the couch, stretching his legs out. That was a good observation from Ambrosius, but simply one James couldn't put to use and it was frustrating him endlessly. "In conclusion, gods hate us and I don't see what kind of change would possibly help."

He sunk into his thoughts for a moment, but things surely couldn't be as dire as he thought. There were always other ways. There must have been something. Maybe simply something outside of a human or faunus capability, but with Ambrosius right there...

Quietly and carefully he asked, as if he was scared of actually getting an answer. "Do you think there is... something that could... help defeat her somehow?"

[damnbrosius]

"The most dramatic things have always occurred when those who summoned me had no other options."

It's a little less wisdom-of-the-ancients that way, but James would probably prefer advice be concise and direct anyway.

"Reaching a certain critical point where things as they are simply no longer work...without fail, it forces change, or results in total collapse. That's the case whether there's an ancient and powerful spirit present or not, if I'm honest, but that factor certainly didn't make things less interesting."

@damnbrosius sent: ❛  when we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.  ❜

Avatar: The Last Airbender starters

James sighed and actually attempted to let the words sink in.

"You should know that I'd dismiss anyone else, but you get the wisdom of ancient spirit privilege, which I cannot just shrug off." He rubbed hands across his face.

"Then again I wonder... Did you ever experience such low or are you speaking purely from observation?"

[damnbrosius]

send  me  this  or  that  questions  for  my  muse  !    

make  them  funny,  make  them  personal,  make  them  embarrassing.  anything  that  you  want,  just  make  them  choose!

[damnbrosius]

"Eh?"

The spread arms come down as Ambrosius looks down in confusion at Aster. After what he'd just announced, this hardly seemed like the most pertinent question.

"Um, yes, yes it does."

There are people nearby, people that don't seem to be frozen in alarm, panic, or delight, so as unusual as it is, it seems that Aster has retrieved the staff near civilians, and with no plan in place for what it was or what to do with it. How that had ended up happening was a question for another time, but he's sure he'll have some agitated words for whoever had simply let his staff hit the ground and be buried in sand for who knows how long.

Unless Aster was a thief, stealing valuables he didn't understand from others. That would be way more exciting. But then, he quickly realizes why Aster must've asked him this question. ...Clearly it was because he realized the value of whatever he could ask for and how time would resume as normal once he got it! He must be very concerned about witnesses and the potential of having whatever he made stolen back off of him!

This assumption carries him through his next response quite confidently.

"Does that matter? Come on, I'm not going to tell anyone what you do with this power. Well, unless it makes for a great story! What is it that you have in mind?"

Aster's tail shifts slightly so that it's more upright, the tip moving, alert. He hoped that offering a handshake hadn't been the wrong thing to do; he didn't know anything about this being. But even though he looked down at the hand offered to him, after a moment, the being floated closer.

He shook Aster's hand before putting distance between them once more, and the sensation is unlike anything Aster had previously experienced. His hands are much larger than Aster's, and when he makes contact with him, the leopard faunus' hand tingles, not quite the same way as it would have if it had fallen asleep, but that's the best comparison he has right now.

As the being speaks again, Aster is rapt with attention, very much interested to learn more about who and what he'd stumbled across. After all, it wasn't every day something like this happened.

The being spread his arms, introducing himself as Ambrosius before he explained that the staff was…..a divine relic provided by the gods. If Aster hadn't been currently holding the staff, talking to its inhabitant, if he hadn't physically touched him, which had shown him that, yes, this was actually happening, he might have questioned what was going on.

But he very much believed Ambrosius; how could he not? He could create anything that could be imagined. Which meant the possibilities were endless.

Aster glances around, finally seeming to realize that time outside of the space the two of them were inhabiting had stopped. He looks down at the staff, then back up at Ambrosius.

"If this is your home, does that mean you're alone most of the time?" he asks. It's likely not the part that most people would focus on, but Aster knows what it's like to feel lonely. He might not need anything physical, but what if they both needed a friend?

[damnbrosius]

"You celebrate peace with combat?"

He supposes a communications tower is at least an idea, and better than turning the giant colosseum into a weapon, as he'd have imagined would be more on track for humanity. This is, of course, hardly the most concerning thing of note by the time he's opened up his mouth a second time.

His eyes have continued to scan the landscape. What he had initially taken for a simple storm front gets an additional glance, the clouds too dark and the flashes of thunder too red. He very quickly comes to a very dire conclusion: Salem has come to Atlas. This, it would seem, is why he's been removed from the so-called safety of the vault Ozma had created and why he finds himself in present company.

He had always dreaded something like this happening. Ozma was timid, cautious, and hesitant. He had allowed Salem too much time.

"What are we doing out here, then? Surely you don't mean to escape with my staff?"

There's a noticeable edge of tension in his voice now. His fear is not for himself, of course, but what could happen if Salem was this nearby, ready an all-out war front. The sad thing is he'd almost rather running with the Staff be the plan, not because he fears Salem, but because he'd much rather that than be locked up again. But if something wasn't done, then...

qrow appreciates the moment of silence, even if he can feel the spirits brain running at a hundred miles per hour instead of his mouth. maybe that’s because he can see all the little twitches happening in his peripheral (could it be called that in the space above his vision, too?).

then the hush is different, and the spirit returns to his side, mystical eyes wide. qrow’s lips spread into an approving smile. of course Ambrosius would latch on to one of the most advanced contraptions.

“ah that? that’s Amity Colosseum. a floatin’ fighting arena that can travel between th’ kingdoms, an’ held tournaments open t'combat students from ‘em all. it was a sign'a peace… while we still had it.”

and now that smile sinks with the weight of reality back into a frown, as they slog through the snow, “everyone was workin’ on repurposin’ it to a communication tower until…”

gods, how to even explain the current situation? qrow’s not even sure he knows what the current report is. the best he can do is vaguely gesture at the growing stormclouds in the distance, “…until we got ourselves into humanity’s latest mess.”

been a lot of those lately, in short order. the perspective is almost more than his brain can grasp right now.

[damnbrosius]

"I suppose I got too comfortable."

Ambrosius had figured a few times that perhaps the God of Creation selecting Ozma as a champion against Salem was a prank on His part. You couldn't think anything else when the one who was supposed to be the great hero tried to take over the world with his evil lover. He's never had a huge amount of faith in the man, but seeing that he had taken others into the fight against the witch had at least been a reason to be hopeful.

"But you don't sound too worried." he says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Is there something you know that I don't?"

An obvious invitation of all the wrong responses, but truthfully it would be a delight to hear that she knew something that meant the world wasn't going to be destroyed soon.

“Infinite lives, infinite knowledge, and the gift of all creation… and still, here we fall.”

Spoken as plain fact, with very little emotional drive behind the words. Unlike Ambrosius, her usefulness had already been used up — and while she doesn’t doubt that the witch would be able to wait another hundred years to ask her questions, she somehow doubts that she will have the patience to wait that long for the end of the world.

Jinn crosses one leg over the other, watching her brother closely. “After all this time, I cannot imagine you’re surprised Ozma failed.”

[damnbrosius]

💖💗💞💓 (from James)

💓💖 (from Aster)

Send some hearts to tell my muse how yours feels about them.

💖: Finds them aesthetically attractive. 💗: Finds them romantically attractive. 💞: Feels attracted to them, but can’t work out if it’s platonic, sexual, or romantic attraction they’re feeling. 💓: Is intimidated by them, but wants to be friends with them.

All of these are mere compliments except for the second one, which stands out like a glowing neon sign. Ambrosius is not only surprised, but a little flustered, and unsure of how to proceed.

"I...thank you, General. I assure you, there's no need to be intimidated."

💓: Is intimidated by them, but wants to be friends with them.💖: Finds them aesthetically attractive.

"Again, no need to be intimidated, Aster."

"Though us becoming friends will hinge on how long you hold onto my Staff for."

[damnbrosius]

❤️ 💞 or rather can't wrap his head around that it's actually a combo of 💖💗 with a bit of 💜

Send some hearts to tell my muse how yours feels about them.

❤️: Wants or is in a romantic relationship with them. 💞: Feels attracted to them, but can’t work out if it’s platonic, sexual, or romantic attraction they’re feeling. 💖: Finds them aesthetically attractive. 💗: Finds them romantically attractive. 💜: Finds them sexually attractive.

There's a moment where Ambrosius stops, mouth slipping open as he considers all of these, but then he just chuckles, looking away.

"Likewise, James."

[damnbrosius]

💖💖💖 💙

Send some hearts to tell my muse how yours feels about them.

💖: Finds them aesthetically attractive. (x3) 💙: Feels pretty indifferent towards them.

"......"

"So, you really, really like my aesthetics, and otherwise are indifferent to me...?"

...Yeah, there's no saving face, he's offended. He's gonna go sulk now.

[damnbrosius]

Send some hearts to tell my muse how yours feels about them.

[damnbrosius]

"Which one do you think?"

"Ozma's ilk came by. They never mentioned him, but they had to have been under his command."

Honestly, he had liked the little red one and her crew of misfits, and their schemes had a certain charm to them. But nonetheless, here he was, with his staff in Salem's hands.

"He really doesn't know how to make a plan, that one."

@damnbrosius || cont.

He’s mocking her, but that’s almost to be expected at this point. His thoughts were so often written upon his face, a heart worn on his sleeve — but that didn’t mean he would outright explain what was causing him to be in such a state. 

She didn’t need to ask, not truly… but she did want to hear it from him, instead of just her own innate knowing.

“Only recent events?” ( and recent was such a relative thing, wasn’t it? ) "I should think you would have realized this from the start. Which was the one that finally pushed you over?“

[damnbrosius]

Have you ever been on a date?

Though Ambrosius can't blush, the stunned look on his face gives a good indication of how caught off-guard and, frankly, flustered he is.

"Aah--"

Has he ever been on a date...? That question was...one he wasn't sure how to answer. Yes? No? Sort of? He's had his rare dalliances with the odd humans, though he tends not to talk about them. Whether anything any of them had done with him at their side qualified as a date or not, though... He supposes that's a bit of an unconventional, if not outright foreign, concept for him.

Among the various things he knew humans liked to enjoy together, eating could safely be crossed off the list, and since time stopped whenever he was summoned, there was no real difference between a public place and a private setting, and anything requiring activity on the part of the outside world was out. Still, he supposes the concept isn't entirely useless. Didn't humans also like to go see art together?

"--Could you tell me why you're asking?"

[damnbrosius]

If you weren't confined to the staff, what would you do? Do you wish you could go other places?

"Sometimes."

"I saw quite a number of places in the days when humanity was relatively new. My staff would be treasured for my power, and would be carried across whole continents with the kings who felt they deserved it or the families who thought I was best kept to their bloodline."

He knows that question isn't really what he's being asked, though.

"To be honest, yes, I wouldn't mind seeing a greater portion of all that the gods made over this planet. Not being able to walk the earth myself is one of the prices I have to pay for great power, I suppose."

[damnbrosius]

Do you miss spending time with your siblings?

"I... I do, yes."

He inhales deep and sighs.

"It's possible I took them for granted during the early days, when I had a regular stream of patrons and my Staff might make it across whole continents. I never lacked for people to talk to, and I could always anticipate someone new. Then I got locked up, and..."

Another sigh, and he turns away.

"The Great War was awful for everyone, but that last battle...it was a terrible day for us. It was the last time I saw Caliban or Choice. It's not the note I'd have chosen to leave on, and...well, there are days when I regret not handling it better."

[damnbrosius]

❝ what are you doing ? ❞ [from Aster]

Meme unknown but honestly who gives a damn

"Um...nothing."

Something he wasn't supposed to be doing? Ambrosius would never.

"Uhh... What are you doing?"