futurology | ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ: ʜᴜɴᴛsᴍᴀɴ (VIDEO)

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ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ: ʜᴜɴᴛsᴍᴀɴ (VIDEO)

( graham doesn't like using the video feature much, so mostly he avoids it. people might recognize his username, though, he hasn't been silent on the network that connects members of ALISTAIR. in fact now that he's a fugitive he has a bit too much time to flip through messages, though that's neither here nor there.

still, the fact he's using it means he does so with a purpose. after Sakura encountered him in the woods, he doesn't see a better way to get his message to everyone that needs to hear it. hopefully the townsfolk themselves will just stay away, and his brother is clever enough to stay clear of people that might hurt him. he's smart and wary of humans, it doesn't seem impossible he'll manage on it's own. it just feels dangerous to leave him out on his own without trying to assure people the wolf is not a threat. )

A friend of mine came from home. I hear that happens on occasion.

( Graham tilts his pendant enough to capture the wolf in the feed, just long enough for the details to be picked up. a vibrant red eye, white and gray fur. a little too friendly with a human, one could argue, as the wolf is looking up at him with an open-mouth grin, much like a dog. )

He's not a threat to humans. He'll more than likely run if you get too close to him, but all the same. If you see him, don't hurt him. He won't hurt you unless you threaten him.

( the wolf still has instincts enough that he will fight if he feels he has to for survival. being so close to a human has tempered many of his wilder instincts, yet the wolf is still and will always be a wolf. )

If you hurt him despite this message I promise you'll regret it.

( there's a steel edge to that threat that is very sincere. Graham was a better man than the Hunstman ever claimed to boast, and the wolf is about all the family he's ever had. if someone is bold enough to try and harm him (or worse), they'll have a dedicated hunter after them, and a ruthless one at that.

with that the video feed closes. if there are questions, they'll likely be answered via text. )

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( its a very odd gift indeed. he hasn't forgotten her questions of familiars but what he understands of them the animal she's holding onto doesn't much qualify. in his world familiars were smaller animals, cats and crows and things similar. he's never heard of a wolf familiar but that doesn't mean that they couldn't exist. there were so many things in this place he'd never seen before; he doubted her companion would be the last. )

I take it you don't recognize it from your own world? ( graham has to wonder why he is different, why he got his brother when so man seemed to be getting animals that they'd never seen or met before. it was just another layer to the many questions revolving around now ALISTAIR was handing out — gifts? incentives? bribes? he didn't know enough to even know which word to use. whatever it was it seemed as if the items generally had a productive purpose, but how they were picked and handed out remained a mystery. )

I've never seen a wolf quite like him, but if he bears some similarities I might be able to help you. ( he was fairly gifted with them, he'd been raised by them after all. ) a trade of information, if you wanted. ( after all he hadn't offered any compensation for the lessons she was offering. it seemed only right to offer her something in return. )

[Sieglinde shook her head, the horned hennin she wore bouncing slightly along with the motion. Even with the way she was dressed, (which she'd been told by someone else looked like "a runaway fairytale"), she wasn't familiar with the creature she'd been given.]

I'm more familiar with creatures like your own companion... or werewolves-

[She looked between the wolf beside Graham and the creature at her own side, raising a questioning brow at it. ... No, she didn't get it, either.

But he mentioned help, and considering she had never even kept a pet, nor been allowed to "waste time" playing with animals in her younger days...]

What sort of help?

( he's not unused to people looking like they've fallen out of a fairytale. it'd be judgmental of him to be, considering he quite literally has, though it's not something he admits. he wears what he's gotten since arrival, so it's not quite as modern as he used to be. and he has to keep to a cloak, necessary to cover his face as he goes from town and back again.

he hopes her new companion isn't a werewolf, though he suspects she would know if it was. unless the wolf was trapped in that form, a rather horrid fate as he understands it. he thinks wearily of the werewolf he'd met so passingly during his captivity by the queen, but now is not a time for reminiscing, painful or otherwise. )

If he's like mine— ( Graham rubs a fond touch over his brother's head, and the wolf seems to relax slightly at the gesture, ) Then I could teach you a bit about how he thinks. What he likes. It might help, if you're interested in learning.

Edited 2015-12-16 06:26 (UTC)

[The werewolves she had known were those who walked upon two legs, largely humanoid- but that had been because they had been humans beneath suits and fake fur and masks to keep the poison gas of her experiments from reaching their lungs.

But that was neither here nor there.

Instead, Sieglinde watched how he interacted with the wolf at his side before looking at the... creature at her own. Since it had arrived she'd at least managed to feed it, and it hadn't been violent, but... it also had wrecked several of her experiments and she really wasn't sure how intelligent it was.]

I will admit that I have little experience with animals in close quarters.

[She'd never even kept a pet, not allowed anything that would have distracted her from her studies. But this was fortuitous- she'd been willing to teach, but a chance to learn herself wasn't one she'd overlook.]

I would be glad to exchange expertise with you- my herbal knowledge for your animal expertise.

( Graham likely might need some time to observe her friend before he could give her any knowledge for certain, yet the basics couldn't be so different. it was a slight relief to have a way to compensate her for her help. she didn't owe him any knowledge, and after all he'd been through he didn't like to leave any loose strings. )

I'll be happy to show you what I know. As long as you treat him with respect, he'll do the same for you, I'm sure.

( some things never seemed to change, as far as animals were concerned. they trusted when it was earned and that trust only faltered when there was good reason for it. the wolf would likely be a good companion, Graham had lived with wolves long enough to know that. )

Where should we begin? I know a little about herbs, but this world is a bit different than mine.

( the enchanted forest had magical plants, he supposes, and those were not present here. or the flora between worlds could be different. )

[It might be sort of comical, the look Sieglinde shot the beast at her side, as if she was suddenly sizing it up in a new, attempt-at-respect sort of light. How did one show respect towards an animal... ?

But, she had important things to focus on- mainly what she'd come out here to do.]

I thought we'd begin with the basics-

[She begins to rummage in the saddlepack slung over the beast's shoulders, pulling out a rolled up leather satchel and carefully letting herself down to the ground in a pool of velvet and lace, moving to untie the bindings and unroll it, revealing a scroll of sorts with small bundles of various herbs along its length.

Willow bark, sage, feverfew, wolfs bane, elderberry, clove, and other more common herbs made up most of her collection, with a few more outlying plants- poppies, valerian... a few poisonous plants and mushrooms...]

Do you recognize any of these, perhaps?

[It was best to start with what he knew.]

( respecting animals is easier for him than respecting humans, most of the time. there's an innocent simplicity to animals that humans lost so quickly. it was hard to find treachery and deception in an animal. it was hard not to find such things in humans, though he's not as distrustful of them as he used to be.

when she moves to the ground he crouches to follow, his wolf padding off on silent feet. Graham doesn't worry too much about when his brother wanders off. he will never go too far.

as for the collection she already has, it's quite a mix of things. there's at least a few he recognizes, though; he lived off the land in the enchanted forest, he has an understanding of plants, though not much understanding of medicinal properties. the more outlying items, the mushrooms and anything poisonous he doesn't recognize, if only because he's used to the poisons of a different world.

still, the things he does know, he points out and lists carefully. he manages to get most of the herbs and the poppy. ) In my world, poppy could be used as a strong knock-out powder. I don't know if that's true in yours. ( they look a little different, even if the name was the same. )

[With the nodding and slight "hmm hmms" beneath her breath as she arranged her skirts in a flowing circle about her knees and over the unnaturally tiny feet, following with her eyes as Graham went along, it seemed Sieglinde was at least pleased with his basic knowledge. It made her job easier if they weren't starting from "zero", after all.]

Knocking one out is a simple way to phrase it, perhaps, but yes- that is true in my world as well.

[She tapped the bundle of flowers and stems, careful not to knock the dried petals off or disturb the seed pods.]

If used properly, [being medically, from her point of view], you can create a powerful painkiller using these. If used improperly... A certain sense of removal from the world and one's body, or even death.

[But that was what came of harnessing nature's gifts. They could easily harm and well as heal, and it was all in how one applied them.]

Is it magical?

( he can't help but ask. he knows that plants don't necessarily need to be magical to have that sort of power, he's just curious. he knows poppy dust is magical in the Enchanted Forest, he hasn't heard much about its properties in an unmagical world. he knows it exists in the land without magic but that's about all he knows. her world seems to have magic, much the same as his. it doesn't seem a horrible question.

he stays low, watching the careful way she moves the herbs and flowers. it's obvious she moves with consideration and respect, something he appreciates, even if the nature under her fingers isn't technically living anymore. there's so much life in the woods and the wild, things so many people don't see. he's glad that the teacher he's acquired seems to have respect for the intricacies of nature. )

No, it is not.

[Sieglinde shook her head, gesturing to the forest behind them.]

Though some of the denizens of these woods are magical in nature, I have yet to find any plants with inherent magical properties.

[Not any that she knew from myths and stories, at any rate. Though she called herself a witch, what she'd done in her world had primarily been scientific- though she'd put "enchantments" on those concoctions she'd come up with.

But that didn't make the plants themselves magical in her eyes.]

( he's silent at that, considering. he knows there are magical plants in the enchanted forest. more than just poppy, there were mushrooms and roots with magical properties. that doesn't mean he prefers to learn about those sorts of things. he's had a little too much experience with magic in his lifetime... he'd appreciate avoiding it for once. )

Do you recognize most of the plants here? Some of them are familiar to me, some I wonder must be native to this land.

( perhaps there was a book that could instruct on their purposes but when he was in the royal library he hadn't exactly been looking into books on herbology. it was still a quiet consideration now, even though he wasn't likely to figure out the answer soon. )

Most of them are the same as my own world, yes.

[Sieglinde nodded, settling back on her knees, the skull-faced beast beside her eyeing her movement, tail sweeping back and forth a few times before returning its gaze toward the forest line.]

The man who runs the apothecary does have books, however- well illustrated ones.

In town?

( that sounds like something he'd be interested in having. the Huntsman couldn't read or write, had to rely on his memory and that alone. the curse gave him the ability to read, so he could take proper advantage of the knowledge now.

buying it as a fugitive, though... that'd be more difficult. )

I'll remember that. When I can, I'll get a book and keep notes of what you show me. Until then whatever you think is most important.

Yes- in the western market.

[She nodded- then paused to think a moment. It would be better if he could keep notes sooner rather than later...]

In the meantime, then, I will draw some of them for you.

[Her memory was nearly photographic, and books she had read before, the text and illustrations both, were not difficult to recall. Pleased with the idea, she rummaged in the saddlebag slung over the beast that accompanied her and came out with a few pages of crumpled parchment and charcoal, merrily beginning to draw without as much as a by your leave...

But. What soon would become unfortunately evident was that, for all her genius... Sieglinde's drawing skills seemed to be... about on par with any normal eleven year old's.]

( he'll get a book as soon as he's able. maybe the huntsman had never used a book to gather his thoughts but the sheriff is more than capable. buying things isn't as easy as it used to be as a fugitive, but he'll figure it out.

as for right now, he watches her draw with a tilted head, a slight smile running over his features — something that was rather rare, usually. Seiglind looked about her age, even though she acted rather maturely, but her drawings were much less adult. he could remark but he doesn't. he likes the drawings just as they are. )

Thank you. I appreciate the help.

( the drawings may be simplistic but he thinks that he can still learn something. by the time he gets a book of his own he can transfer the information over. )

[When she's working, Sieglinde's focus is razor sharp, and so despite the fact that her drawings were hardly first rate, she put her entire ability into making them.

In the end, basic as they were, they could at least prove somewhat useful.

Pausing, Sieglinde looked up, holding her charcoal in a dirty hand.]

Do you speak German? Or English?

[For labels... ALASTAIR may have provided translators for their speech, but, best to be safe.]

( they are basic, but they'll do him just fine. honestly if he tried he might not do much better. he's good at quite a few things, drawing isn't something he's ever attempted. as long as he can recognize it he doesn't need much more. )

English would be fine.

( he sounds Irish, even if he's not... but he's never heard german before and would likely get more than a little lost. )

Then I shall try to label them in English!

[Sieglinde had no way of knowing any accents beside British and German, having never left the confines of her village and meeting only British people who had wandered into her forest.

But she took her charcoal back to the paper, beginning to carefully label what she could... though several did end up in German, humming to herself as she did before handing over the papers with a flourish.]

( he doesn't know German but for now, the notes she's left him with seem good enough to him. he doesn't need an English name, really, does he? as long as he can understand the plant and what it is capable of, German names don't phase him. (and having so little experience with the language, he might not realize it's German, anyway.) )

Thank you. ( her work is appreciated, likely more than she knows. he's not sure he's ever had someone teach him like this before. he's more comfortable than most would be with such a younger instructor, likely, yet he seemed to trust younger better than older. older had too much time to be corrupted by humanity. ) I'll study these. Hopefully when we meet again I can have them memorized.

You are welcome, Graham.

[Though it's not something she could put into words well, Sieglinde has never in her life been treated like a normal girl. Since infancy she's been the Green Witch, the person people counted on, a lord of her village- and since coming to Chantes, she's encountered quite a few people who treated her... like a child.

It's not something she's found she likes. So being treated like she's used to- as competent, more an equal...

It's appreciated.]

Once you have these memorized, we can move on to how best to utilize them for salves and potions, so I will hold you to your studies.

All right. Hopefully I can get them down in a few days.

( he is careful in folding them to put in his pocket. he doesn't have any better way to keep them, but a fold or two shouldn't make them unreadable. he treats them with obvious care when he puts them away. )

Are you going to stay here, or would you like some company back to town?

[It pleases her to see him be careful with the documents- as careless as she could be with her surroundings... Sieglinde valued books. They contained all sorts of knowledge, and learning...

Well, that was the gateway to everything.]

Is it safe for you?

[To go back into town.]

Safer than being here, actually.

( the forest is where he was caught in the first place, and it's still watched by guards for hint of the order. he can't help himself, he comes out anyway, but he's learning to limit it. )

I'm staying in town, I've got to go back sooner or later. I'll go with you if you like.

[Hmm... Sieglinde considers for a moment, and weirdly enough, part of that consideration seems to be... a head to toe sweep of Graham's person.

But she nods, beginning to put away her herbs and parchment into the saddle-bag the beast is steady enough to keep in reach...]

Very well, I shall accept your escort.

[Only to then hold her arms up in a pose most any child used when they expected to be picked up.]

( that is... not what he was expecting. though he supposes with her unusual feet, she's might not be particularly accustomed to walking much. he'd intended to walk her back next to her instead of carrying her and be hesitates for a moment. he doesn't usually favor being close to people, of any size. still... On his own terms, he can manage it. and he appreciates her help and offered his own in return.

so in the end he chooses to lift her up, albeit carefully. she's lighter than he thinks someone of her age should be. it's odd to be trusted to carry an absolute stranger, but if anything it just makes him more determined to deserve that trust. )

You're staying at the inn? ( that's an assumption but most of ALISTAIR was staying in the local inn for accommodations. including himself, now. )

ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ: ʜᴜɴᴛsᴍᴀɴ (VIDEO)

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I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY! the holidays+work hit me hard

NO PROB welcome back <3

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