You know the drill!
Nov. 9th, 2004 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runicloreWow, I haven't posted anything craptastic for quite a while! Let me remedy that. =p
I recently read Ala al-Din and the Magic Lamp, so this is somewhat inspired by that. Not quite the way I'd have it happen in a serious story, though. More on that at the end.
The boy cradled his hand carefully. It was cold, as if he'd just dipped it into a bucket of icy water. It responded when he tried to move his fingers but he couldn't feel them - like they really were frozen, but only the circle was dead white on the back of his hand, and the skin around it looked healthy and alive. He didn't remember how it had gotten there, only that it hadn't been there before he'd fallen.
He rubbed his hand and glanced aside. The icy walls of his sanctuary were the same, still seamless, still no visible exit; only the hole in the ceiling through which he'd fallen. Like a temple, the walls vaulted up to that tiny point, high above him, the arching ceiling supported by smooth, unmarked pillars. It was similar to other ruins he'd seen in Aronia when he and his cell had been moved around to work in different regions.
Even though the chamber was clearly empty aside from the altar, he had the distinct sense that someone was there with him, watching. Searching with his eyes was futile, returning only his own warped reflection on the glassy walls. "Who's there?" He coughed. A slave always knew when he was being watched. The ones that didn't never lasted long.
Nothing answered him, naturally, but he couldn't shake the feeling. He clung to a pillar and hauled himself to his feet. How was he supposed to get out of here?
The circle on his hand tingled, and his fingers twitched. He rubbed it absently and leaned against the pillar, staring again at the opening in the ceiling. There was no sign of glass or any other covering, yet he knew he'd not seen a hole when he was walking. Something must have camoflauged it... which meant something might still be camoflauging it, and preventing him from being found. It wouldn't help at all if someone else fell through...
Freezing, stabbing pain flashed in his hand, making him cry out. It was gone in an instant, and left him gasping and staring at the circle. The lines shimmered, the way water shimmers when touched by the sun.
Use me.
The boy stared. Then he glanced around again quickly, up, down, to the side. "Who's there?" His voice took on a slightly nervous edge as he pressed his back to the pillar. Enemies were one thing - he'd had to fight monsters before in the fields, in the mines, but he'd always been able to see them.
Do not be afraid. I will help you.
He snorted. Help him - the way the overseer helped him, and anyone else unfortunate enough to draw attention to themselves?
Do not be afraid, it repeated. He realized whatever it was had not spoken aloud, and he was chilled further, the cold emanating from his hand not one bit of help.
Runes didn't talk, did they? He thought it must be one, even though he'd never seen one quite like it, and he'd surely be in trouble for possessing it when he returned. Slaves weren't allowed to bear runes, and he had no idea how /this/ one had come to be on his hand. He wanted it off! They'd take it away from him anyway. Being accused of stealing was not how he wanted to start the solstice season.
The feeling of being watched intensified. They will not take me away from you. If he'd thought runes could talk and feel, he'd have said there was something smug in the way it spoke. Let me help you. The chill softened, and he found he could move his fingers again.
"Why?" He felt ridiculous, talking to his hand. "Why should I listen to you? Who are you? What are you?"
I am harmony.
Harmony? There was no rune that - well, at least he didn't think there was--
Allow me to take care of you. I will not lead you astray.
--------------------------------------------------
So, yeah, I have reasons for this.
I wasn't trying to think very deeply about it, first of all. The thought occurred to me when I was thinking back to a fic on FF.Net, and a chapter titled, "This is Harmony." I thought that would be a much better title for her story, but... whatever.
They say runes are sentient, but there's no indication that they actually talk. At least, none that I can say is definitely canon, and not part of the odd conglomeration of information surrounding various role-playing projects. ^^ They share memories, at least. I thought perhaps a more controlling rune would take matters into its own hands, and dominate its bearer from the beginning. Communicating one's desires is a lot easier through speech. Of course, maybe runes can make their intentions known without that, but for various reasons I'm not going to touch on, I don't think they can just wrench complete control right away. That just doesn't seem reasonable. Talk about a big plot hole.
But since I'm not a Suikoden expert, I won't worry about that. I assume no Suikoden experts are reading this, so I won't worry about that either. But if you are, kindly burst my bubble and give me the facts? I'll love you forever, or at least until my next attempt.
I'm not satisfied with this, really. If I decided to write a biography about Hikusaak, this would not be how I'd give him the rune. It just sort of... fell out of my brain when I was trying to decide what to eat, and I thought it'd been too long since the last update to this journal, so there you are. Sorry about the random generic slavery references, but I didn't exactly think this through. =p Though actually, I do believe he'd be ignorant. He's a slave after all.
Edit: Oh, and I suppose I should say this is Suikoden...ish. Forgot about that.
I recently read Ala al-Din and the Magic Lamp, so this is somewhat inspired by that. Not quite the way I'd have it happen in a serious story, though. More on that at the end.
The boy cradled his hand carefully. It was cold, as if he'd just dipped it into a bucket of icy water. It responded when he tried to move his fingers but he couldn't feel them - like they really were frozen, but only the circle was dead white on the back of his hand, and the skin around it looked healthy and alive. He didn't remember how it had gotten there, only that it hadn't been there before he'd fallen.
He rubbed his hand and glanced aside. The icy walls of his sanctuary were the same, still seamless, still no visible exit; only the hole in the ceiling through which he'd fallen. Like a temple, the walls vaulted up to that tiny point, high above him, the arching ceiling supported by smooth, unmarked pillars. It was similar to other ruins he'd seen in Aronia when he and his cell had been moved around to work in different regions.
Even though the chamber was clearly empty aside from the altar, he had the distinct sense that someone was there with him, watching. Searching with his eyes was futile, returning only his own warped reflection on the glassy walls. "Who's there?" He coughed. A slave always knew when he was being watched. The ones that didn't never lasted long.
Nothing answered him, naturally, but he couldn't shake the feeling. He clung to a pillar and hauled himself to his feet. How was he supposed to get out of here?
The circle on his hand tingled, and his fingers twitched. He rubbed it absently and leaned against the pillar, staring again at the opening in the ceiling. There was no sign of glass or any other covering, yet he knew he'd not seen a hole when he was walking. Something must have camoflauged it... which meant something might still be camoflauging it, and preventing him from being found. It wouldn't help at all if someone else fell through...
Freezing, stabbing pain flashed in his hand, making him cry out. It was gone in an instant, and left him gasping and staring at the circle. The lines shimmered, the way water shimmers when touched by the sun.
Use me.
The boy stared. Then he glanced around again quickly, up, down, to the side. "Who's there?" His voice took on a slightly nervous edge as he pressed his back to the pillar. Enemies were one thing - he'd had to fight monsters before in the fields, in the mines, but he'd always been able to see them.
Do not be afraid. I will help you.
He snorted. Help him - the way the overseer helped him, and anyone else unfortunate enough to draw attention to themselves?
Do not be afraid, it repeated. He realized whatever it was had not spoken aloud, and he was chilled further, the cold emanating from his hand not one bit of help.
Runes didn't talk, did they? He thought it must be one, even though he'd never seen one quite like it, and he'd surely be in trouble for possessing it when he returned. Slaves weren't allowed to bear runes, and he had no idea how /this/ one had come to be on his hand. He wanted it off! They'd take it away from him anyway. Being accused of stealing was not how he wanted to start the solstice season.
The feeling of being watched intensified. They will not take me away from you. If he'd thought runes could talk and feel, he'd have said there was something smug in the way it spoke. Let me help you. The chill softened, and he found he could move his fingers again.
"Why?" He felt ridiculous, talking to his hand. "Why should I listen to you? Who are you? What are you?"
I am harmony.
Harmony? There was no rune that - well, at least he didn't think there was--
Allow me to take care of you. I will not lead you astray.
--------------------------------------------------
So, yeah, I have reasons for this.
I wasn't trying to think very deeply about it, first of all. The thought occurred to me when I was thinking back to a fic on FF.Net, and a chapter titled, "This is Harmony." I thought that would be a much better title for her story, but... whatever.
They say runes are sentient, but there's no indication that they actually talk. At least, none that I can say is definitely canon, and not part of the odd conglomeration of information surrounding various role-playing projects. ^^ They share memories, at least. I thought perhaps a more controlling rune would take matters into its own hands, and dominate its bearer from the beginning. Communicating one's desires is a lot easier through speech. Of course, maybe runes can make their intentions known without that, but for various reasons I'm not going to touch on, I don't think they can just wrench complete control right away. That just doesn't seem reasonable. Talk about a big plot hole.
But since I'm not a Suikoden expert, I won't worry about that. I assume no Suikoden experts are reading this, so I won't worry about that either. But if you are, kindly burst my bubble and give me the facts? I'll love you forever, or at least until my next attempt.
I'm not satisfied with this, really. If I decided to write a biography about Hikusaak, this would not be how I'd give him the rune. It just sort of... fell out of my brain when I was trying to decide what to eat, and I thought it'd been too long since the last update to this journal, so there you are. Sorry about the random generic slavery references, but I didn't exactly think this through. =p Though actually, I do believe he'd be ignorant. He's a slave after all.
Edit: Oh, and I suppose I should say this is Suikoden...ish. Forgot about that.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: *laughs*
Date: 2004-11-21 10:49 pm (UTC)Re: *laughs*
Date: 2004-11-22 02:55 pm (UTC)I'm glad that you like my story. In April, I'll have been working on it for a full two years, so every bit of encouragement helps.
I plan on concluding with the end to the war, so it'd been fun to speculate on what happens after. In a recent chapter Mio talks about how the government could be run. That was the first time I really worried about how exactly everything would fit together. With the Circle Rune around, I'm pretty sure Kiisan will be better at this than he expects. I'll continue the war and you tell me what happens after!
It really is nice to run into you. ^^
(By the way- my icon is Sasshalai, "The revolution...Let's win..." The whole picture is here: http://www.geocities.com/shinkansho_sasarai/kiisan-tachi.jpg
It's a little old, but it has a nice style)
Re: *laughs*
Date: 2004-12-29 04:17 pm (UTC)I imagine him looking like this after he's been ruling the country for a while. The narrower eyes make him look the only bit older he's going to get. ^^: