Livia Fiore and Odhra Bebbin
Library, First Session
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[color=a187be]"Erectile dysfunction, huh..."[/color] Livia smirked lightly. [color=a187be]"No, no, I don't quite have that problem, heh."[/color] Sio gripped her shoulder lightly, poking her head curiously over the summoners shoulder as she observed the bookshelves alongside her. [color=a187be]"So what do you know of undead? Many eastern folklore and legends about undead are quite fascinating. Their demons are particularly vicious and I think two sort of spider spirits."[/color] Livia made an off-hand mention with a smirk before quickly continuing. [color=a187be]"I'm thinking about trying to find a specific sort of demon from there. I’m just...rather undecided on what I should be trying for.."[/color]

"Meui, tretil?" A gentle ruffle of her hair got her attention.

[color=a187be]"...What?"[/color]

"Tretil, tretil!" The ghost released Livia from her grip, pointing towards Odhra. Livia frowned for a moment, trying to understand her summons. A language barrier was a difficult thing indeed, but thankfully she had been studying these rare phrases and words of her for a while.

[color=a187be]"...I think Siobahn says she has something she wants to give you."[/color] Livia sighed as Siobahn nodded eagerly. [color=a187be]"Alright, alright. I'll call you back before second session."[/color] With a ghostly giggle and a mischievous wave towards Odhra, Siobhan vanished from sight, presumably being unsummoned and sent back to her forest for now. A few minutes after she left, Livia pulled a book off the shelf and walked back over to Odhra.

[color=a187be]"Take my advice, Odhra. Anything she gives you, will almost certainly kill you in some fashion."[/color] She opened a thick tome and flipped through some of the pages, glossing over her previous statement as she returned to the earlier topic. [color=a187be]"A type of undead, a demon, or other fairy like creature similar to Siobahn."[/color]

[color=5faa3c]”I’ll bear that in mind, but I’m sure it is nothing too dangerous. Sio hardly seems the vindictive type!”[/color] Odhra chirpped, fairly certain Livia was just over reacting. [color=5faa3c]”As for what I know of undead, very little.”[/color] He says stroking his chin. [color=5faa3c]”My studies mostly focused on preventing things from getting to that stage. And despite what literature might say, very few realms have naturally occuring undeath as a result of infection or biological trigger and what few that do...yeah. Don’t summon those.”[/color]  He says, suddenly frowning deeply. [color=5faa3c]” Like, ever. Pretty much all of those are categorically useless. Unless you really like watching decomposition in action.”[/color]

[color=5faa3c]”As for spiders and undeath...little more complicated. Depending on the culture, spiders might be more strongly associated with communal connections than anything else. Eastern empires tended to focus on spiritual spiders as predatory aspects. The Tsuchigumo being little more than artistic exaggerations of native burrowing spiders and the Jorogumo which, while technically a spirit, was more a tool for teaching a warrior caste to ignore the request of beautiful young women in the name of fulfilling their obligation to their lords. So in that culture, don’t see a lot of connection there.”[/color]

Odhra pauses for another moment, now visibly racking his brain for anything helpful. He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small silver notebook, flipping the front open and wordlessly thumbing to a page. [color=5faa3c]”For more general undead though? Best recommendation I can give is a Jianshi. Easy to control, relatively diverse since they were once humans, and….well, they hop. Like...everywhere. Its basically the fourth cutest thing I’ve ever seen a corpse do.”[/color] He chirps, handing the book over to Livia, the notes….spare on specific details but a general overview being there. 

[color=5faa3c]”More seriously, it's also probably a good idea for you as well, what with exam coming up.”[/color] He says, his tone a little more serious. [color=5faa3c]”Jianshi are not likely to be common enough to this region that the masters or the students have ready access to the resources needed to trivialize them. And little leg ups like that generally what get people into the higher tiers initially.”[/color] He adds, remembering the first time he publically summoned Bubbles during his last exam. Got a lot of angry glares for that one..

[color=a187be]"Jiangshi, hm..."[/color] Livia mused, taking the book that had been slid across to her. She had considered them before, being particularly well versed in such topics. Odhra's input was certainly welcome, if not particularly overall helpful. She hadn't been very interested in them for the simple reason they seemed...not exactly well suited for what she wanted. They likely weren't very subtle creatures, what with being unable to move very well.

[color=a187be]“They were on my list of things to look into. As were Enera, or perhaps a Baku.”[/color] There was a list she had narrowed down to just having a few left, and Jiangshi was at the bottom of it...but perhaps she could make a small adjustment. Handing Odhra his notes back, Livia placed a few of her own notes onto the table. [color=a187be]“As cute as hopping is, I'm a little concerned about their mobility...but perhaps that should be a small thing to consider.”[/color]

She could use something a bit more...direct, in its nature. As good as all her cloak and dagger schemes were, having something that she could use to deal with things more directly was always a good backup plan.

[color=a187be]“What about you, Odhra? Planning on trying to summon anything else soon?”[/color]

A look of abject misery washes over Odhra’s features as he leans over the table, a soft groan escaping him. [color=5faa3c]”Sir Lestrelle...is heavily encouraging me to move out of my comfort zone with the arachnid family.”[/color] he said with the exhaustion of someone who had experienced the conversation far more than they likely wanted. [color=5faa3c]”Say’s I’m over-reliant on them and it keeps me from looking at alternatives. I don’t think he’d fail me if I don’t but...kind of don’t want to risk it.”[/color]

He huffs and sits up again. [color=5faa3c]”I think he let me get away with it for now because Baily is somewhat advanced for my level, but...ugh. Its not my fault. My babies listen to me so well because nobody else WANTS to summon them. So it’s been really easy to build up a strong harmony with them. I’ve no idea how I’d even approach a cat summon or whatever...So I’m kind of just waffling on the decision on what to try next.”[/color] he half whines, knowing he was being more than a little stubborn in Livia’s eyes. [color=5faa3c]”Probably another combat focused one or...whatever.”[/color] he sighs, sounding very uninterested in the idea. Bubbles will always be cooler than some dumb cat anyway.

[color=a187be] “Hmm, I see.”[/color] Livia glanced over to the bookshelves, thinking. Something that was out of his comfort zone but she would have decent knowledge of and was something more Bestia related. She supposed this is where her studies into all sorts of mythologies and legends would come in handy. [color=a187be]“I think I may have something for you...”[/color] Livia flipped through a few pages in her book, finding a page that was heavily outlined with notes and even a rather well done sketch of a rendition of a particularly large werewolf like deer creature.

[color=a187be]“A wendigo may be a good place to start.”[/color] Livia handed him the notebook. [color=a187be] “Often considered spirits and result of human greed and excess, they are at times, considered a sort of beast as well. Closely related to the lesser known Wechuge, they're fairly formidable creatures.”[/color] Livia leaned back in her chair. [color=a187be] “They were also used as protectors, by sacrificing a person to let the spirit have their body to protect them from their enemies.”[/color] She paused, frowning slightly. [color=a187be]“...That said, I am unsure if it would entirely fall under Bestia. Depends on who you talk too.”[/color]

Could she have tried a bit harder to help with something more bestia? Most certainly. Did she have any desire too? Not really.

Odhra considers the notebook for a moment, eyes lazily roaming over the details. [color=5faa3c]”I...guess. Looks kind of cute to..”[/color] He mumbles, scribbling down the notes on a spare sheet of paper with surprising speed. [color=5faa3c]”If nothing else, it could atleast be less exhausting than Bubbles to keep out. Plus, other folks might find it more relaxing to be around that than one of my babies…”[/color] he sighs, finishing his copy of Livias work and carefully tucking it into his own notebook. 

[color=5faa3c]”Thanks Livi. I’ll take a look into them after classes tonight....speaking of which…”[/color] he says, leaning forward. [color=5faa3c]”When you gonna try and summon your new baby?”[/color] He asks, a lilt of excitement in his voice. [color=5faa3c]”I kind of wanna be there if I can. ‘S Always cool to see what someone fishes up from the realms. Plus,...probably a good idea to have a medic on site just in case.”[/color] He adds, less a threat and more a recognition of reality. Accidents happened, and Odhra would be lying if he said he wouldn’t love to be the one with first crack at the victim if it happened.

[color=a187be] “Aha, don't look so down.”[/color] Livia replied with a chuckle. [color=a187be] “I know how you feel. I don't particularly desire to...step outside my comfort zone either, as it were.”[/color] She gave a small shake of her head. [color=a187be] “But if one desires to get stronger, then they must.”[/color] She had no idea what she would do once she mastered Phantasma – she really didn't fancy ever using any of the other houses. Dracona was too overt. Bestia was far too rowdy and Machina was...hm. Come to think of it, Machina was fairly interesting in its own way.

Maybe.

[color=a187be]“Hm, I was planning on doing it tonight.”[/color] Livia continued. [color=a187be]“I feel as though I am ready for it, and I see no reason to wait around.”[/color] Having someone else present presented unknown variables that could happen. Bad ones. Odhra presence however, would be quite welcome honestly. The boy was naive, but incredibly smart. [color=a187be]“So by all means, its a date then.”[/color]

Odhra beamed, a smile that (to a casual observer) ranged somewhere between honest naked joy and sadistic mirth spreading across his face like a jagged scar. [color=5faa3c]”Lovely!”[/color] he chirpped, rather loudly, unable to keep his excitement out of his voice. [color=5faa3c]”I’ll bring some food over for afterwards. Never know how a first time is going to affect your blood suger. Chicken and rice with fruit salad ok?”[/color] He asked, mind somewhat scattered between organizing a list of tools and medications he’d need to pack and wondering if he should cook  or just pick something up from the cafeteria. 

[color=a187be] “That sounds lovely.”[/color] Livia replied. [color=a187be]“And make sure there's enough for Eva as well, hm? She'll get jealous if she finds out we're doing something without her.”[/color] Now then, it was about time for them to get going, and Sio should probably be well done with whatever it was she was doing. She had to suppress a groan just from the thought of it she she focused her mind, summoning her ghostly friend.

Siobahn appeared in her usual fashion, floating up from Livia's shadow with a friendly giggle, giving a brief hug to her summoner before fixing Odhra with a rather...unsettling grin as she released Livia and floated over to the boy.

She pulled out a white flower that seemed to release some sort of strange aroma and handed it out to Odhra. The flower was beautiful – almost immaculate. The petals were thick, large, and seemed to glow softly. The stem was thicker than most plants, about the size of Odhra's thumb. It seemed hollow?

“Tretil.”

Livia saw the flower, blinked twice, before sighing lightly and using her hands to form an 'x' as she locked eyes with Odhra.

[color=5faa3c]”Aww, thank you Sio”[/color] Odhra coos, sparing a moment to give Livia a quizzical look, thinking maybe he should talk to her later about trusting her summons more. Taking it gently he smiled at the banshee warmly. [color=5faa3c]”I’ll be sure to treasure it for the rest of my life.”[/color] He says honestly, reaching into his bag. 

[color=a187be] “...you most certainly will.”[/color] Livia replied with a small smile. Well, whatever. If he wanted to experience that, then he most certainly was welcome too. Sio simply clapped her bony hands together with a ghostly chuckle before floating over back to Livia. With a friendly wave bye, Siobahn fled back into Livia's shadow leaving the two of them alone again. [color=a187be] “I suppose that's that then. Second session should be starting soon and I should go make sure Eva's not still pouting. Meet you during last session?”[/color]

[color=5faa3c]”Sounds good to me. I need to get this pressed before it starts to wilt, so if you want to head out thats ok.”[/color] he says as he takes out some disposable gloves, a breathing mask, a small metal plate and disinfectant.[color=5faa3c]”Generally takes a few minutes and is honestly pretty boring to watch. But it should keep the flower visibly prestine for several decades.”[/color]

He pauses for a moment, considering something. [color=5faa3c]”....also keeps whatever biological contaminants it might be carrying from another realm neutralized and sealed in a vacuum. Though I guess I wouldn’t have know that before hand...plus poor Sio’s feelings might have been hurt if I had set up a clean room just to accept a gift.”[/color]