Floor 5, Room 3

[leewards]

ITHAQUA

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room layout

[leewards]

Ithaqua's room does not follow any sort of convention-- it's more a hodge-podge of furnishings that he finds comfortable or interesting. The most common trait of his furniture however is that they are all solid wood, lacking in veneer or wood stains, and minimal screws or steel as joinery. On top of the solid wood frames are plush everything. A plush mattress, a plush couch, a plush arm chair rarely seen without a book balanced on an arm rest, plush ottomans near the window, and many cushions. The curtains are thick and dark to keep out as much light and sound as possible, due to his being a nocturnal creature. It's clear that he values comfort over style or function.

Next to the bed is a chest of drawers for clothes and other trinkets, and on the opposite wall are shelves next to the armchair for books within easy reach. Beyond those are shelves for storing potions, fresh and dried ingredients, and snacks, prepared on the counter underneath said shelves. In the middle of the room is a large fur rug, and thrown over the sofa is the (thankfully well-cleaned and processed) pelt of a beast from the nearby forest. Please pretend it exists in the visual because the program I used is so stingy with its items--

The whole room smells like pine, dried herbs, and fresh, mildly sweet fruit preserves, and the air of the room is kept perpetually cool with magic. The room is also magically soundproofed in that no sound will escape and minimal outside sound will leak in.

On the bookshelves are some wooden figurines that came from the local gambling gachapon machine. While some have been relegated to the lower shelves, there are others that occupy higher shelves that are easily within the reach of an average human being-- if anyone is paying attention to manor gossip, they'll know that these are the figurines of the various couples, each couple given their own individual shelf and set of books to guard. Urianger's and Ithaqua's in particular are closest to the armchair Ithaqua reads his books in.

post-central mission northies gathering

[leewards]

[welcome to the first annual northies meeting! started by the local abominable snowman. there's no strict "tagging order" or solid agenda outside of "hey people are going out to so secret things, maybe we should prepare???" kind of stuff. feel free to make your own starter under this header, have your characters do things to itha's room (pls don't destroy it tho), heckle the creature, leave the room once the chatter about missions is over, etc.

basically: treat this like a mingle mini-log.]

[leewards]

[When Ithaqua has a goal in mind, he doesn't stop for anything. Anyone wearing their wizard's coat and bearing the Northern Country's colours gets rounded up, coaxed or just outright picked up and brought to Ithaqua's room on the fifth floor, and told to sit and make themselves comfortable until he's sure he's gotten every representative of the North. At least he wasn't exagerrating about the comfort of his room? There is a massive, comfortable fur rug (if you ignore the little hole in it somewhere), a fur throw on top of a plush couch, padded armchairs, thick, smaller rugs, and a lot of pillows and cushions not just on his bed but everywhere. Plus, everything smells like pine or dried herbs, save for a jar of canned fruit in the corner. Does a half-feral stranger like Ithaqua really live in here?

When Ithaqua finally returns to the room after rounding everyone up, he pulls his stilts off, actually padding into the room on just his boots. A first, surely, though he's still quite tall without them-- but the lack of stilts make his body unbalanced to look at, given the strange proportions of his body.]

Well, Hopefully I've not missed anyone. After all, it would be a shame if they were to miss this discussion. [Then he sits on one of the arm chairs, resting his weight on one of the arm rests and crossing his legs.]

It's about time that we came together for a little country representative meeting, hm? Best do it before we must leave for strange reasons and then return looking the worse for wear.

[That's a bait comment. He's seeing who has been paying attention, and who has not.]



[ooc: once again, no strict tagging order! if y'all want to tag each other under this starter, feel free to, if you just want to talk to itha, it's all good. we have the disco to plan stuff out too.]

[impacter]

[Solomon, for one, is charmed at the general vibes he's getting from this decor. Very rustic, very "witch in the back of the moat". Classic.

He stays very casual, despite looking a little tense and drawn with stress, one hand gently playing with a charm that glows incessantly at his hip. He's not choosing to sit just yet - if he's going to take the time to speak, he would rather have the attention of the room.

When Ithaqua finally takes a seat to show that he's done with his spree of catherding, Solomon taps his wand against a nearby piece of furniture, brassy eyes sharp with focus.]

Since Ithaqua had been kind enough to get our joint attention, I have a few things I would like to make sure we discuss.

Firstly: I assume Lazuli, Tatara or one of your fellow wizards has shared this to you by now, but just in case it's still not clear... Be careful of making promises or vows. It does not matter how small, or how large. Breaking a promise will rob you of your magic.

[He will let that sit, before continuing.]

Second, I would like to know what any of you have heard in detail from our friends that just came back from Central. I've been otherwise occupied, but I'm very aware something is amiss.

[If you heard a gunshot the other night: lol. Sorry about your rug, Itha.]

Thirdly, I would like to explain a situation as it stands in the North.

As some of you already know, the North is not a forgiving place. The relationship humans have with wizards seems to be one of necessity and fear - an unbalanced agreement, of some varying severity, to protect the people. From the representative I spoke to, it sounds like some wizards would gladly take to being treated as a god and threatening punishment or the withdrawal of their protections.

[He sure doesn't have some strong opinions about this... still, he continues.]

With the absence of the previous Sage's wizards, some of the local villages are now without protection. This includes both from the natural threats of the environment, as well as from other wizards who may want to take advantage of their state of desperation. It sounds like escalation will not be a matter of "if", but "when".

In addition, there seems to be an ongoing tension at this time in regards to Central and the royal family with one particular village. The wizard prince was rumored to have been abandoned in the mountains as a child, rescued by another and brought to be raised in the village for quite some time without any having knowledge of his bloodline. While the prince is grown and had been returned to Central some time ago, it seems like some people in the North are unsure of what Central may consider them, now that the prince is missing.

Much of that was very cautious second-hand, so I would like to not take too much as straight fact just yet. But I would keep those tensions in mind if we are called out like those from South and Central.

[fellheart]

[ grima robin lurks in a corner of the room, an unreadable expression on his face. his attention is signified only in the way that his gaze follows whoever it is that is speaking, but as Solomon finishes up with his analysis of the north, robin makes a clicking sound before pushing himself off of the wall. ]

It sounds like they are lucky to have been protected at all, considering what little the books have to say about some of our predecessors all seems to agree that they are... hm, volatile and capricious at best.

[ to name just a few, the demon king oz, who supposedly conquered his way across half the world before abruptly stopping, as the history books would put it; mithra and tiletta, both supposedly incredibly violent and unpredictable; the twins white and snow, one of whom apparently died at the other's hand...?

(yet the accounts both textual and otherwise speak of their presences as current, outside of their immediate circumstances. curious.) ]

Of course, they might be a reasonably biased account, considering the clear tensions present in both the country and this world alike— but for what little it means I am given to believe that all the tomes available in the manor's library were penned by previous sages, not the populace here. They also span quite the length of time.

For what it's worth, the representative I met from the city the wizards Snow and White used to protect was of quite ... nervous disposition, let's just say.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Ahito is similarly standoffish, partially because he had to be scruffed to come along and partially because he's just like this. He, too, spends most the meeting leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed, watching in silence as others give their reports. But eventually:]

The Western Magitek Army is up to something. I spoke to a member of their research group who happened to be the sole survivor of some kind of incident. Apparently, the wizards who came before us did something that led to an explosion that killed his entire crew except for him, and they were conducting an expedition for research in some hidden labs or something.

[He waves a hand in annoyance.]

It was all piecemeal - between his nervousness and hatred of wizards, the man couldn't say more than a couple sentences before going on and on about how all wizards are evil and caused the incident and all that.

Other than that... It seems Central was called to deal with some ghosts in the Granville castle, presumably because they're tied to this country. Totsuka warned me that as a Northern wizard I should be working on improving my magic as much as possible due to the dangers we're sure to face, so I'm sure we'll be called to the North ourselves sooner or later.

...Based on the person I talked to, it sounds like Central had a rough time of it. They touched a cursed object and - shockingly - it's cursed them as a result. Not that any of you need to hear it, but it sounds to me like caution's the way to go if and when we get called upon.

[impacter]

[Hm... quite a bit to touch on here. His expression shifts to something, a brief glance of... concern? Sympathy? It's kept short, though - he has no desire to bring that up, it's not his place.]

It would likely be safer to assume the distaste is not going to stop. That he told you anything at all with a hatred that strong... It's sort of surprising.

Has the Western concern been passed along to Tatara?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua taps his claws on the arm rest.] There's more to be said about the mission of our friends, the representatives of the Central country.

The object, a rock, is what was drawing the ghosts in-- I presume they either lived in it, or it had some properties that were attractive to them. I think it's more the latter though, as it's tied to the moon in some way. I was told that the pain of handling the rock was metaphysical, rather than physical. Spiritual, I suppose.

Us Northern wizards are far more intimate with destructive magic, yes? Exorcism and cleansing... studying that wouldn't go amiss.

[A pause, then:] Did anyone speak to someone from the South after their little excursion?

before north mission

[dadsandals]

[ Hey teach. Yamato will leave something at Ithaqua's door: A coin with his emblem on it (a music sharp). ]

I put a seal on it to try and protect you from any moon curses. Good luck, whenever you go.

- Ymt

before north mission!

[lustro]

[ At some point before the North wizards get called away, there's a small gift bag hanging on Ithaqua's doorknob. In it is a small glass bottle filled with dandelion wishes and petals - from lilies, from roses, from all the new and familiar flowers Ginger has encountered while he gardens. The bottle feels warm to hold - and warmer still the longer it's held. At its peak, it will burn the frost away from the inside out for whoever holds it. The duration doesn't last too long, perhaps an hour at best if used all at once, but see, these are the flowers he learned to tend to with Ithaqua's help. These are well wishes from someone who doesn't see an abominable monster, but a curious and kind ally.

The bag waits patiently for the room's owner to find it before they leave - or when they return. ]

before the north mission

[divineth]

[Urianger would prefer to deliver this in person, hence the several knocks on the door first, but he ultimately decides to leave his gift neatly packaged at Ithaqua's door.

Inside the cloth wrapping is an amulet attached to a silver chain. The amulet is a beautiful deep blue with flecks of white symbolizing a familiar night sky. The light catches them differently when the amulet is rotated, giving off an ethereal three dimensional illusion of movement.

A handwritten note is included. The penmanship is fancy as hell, befitting the writer.]

Ithaqua,

Pray take this amulet with thee on thine excursion. It is designed to both heal thee and erect a personal barrier between thee and thy quarry. But thou must use it wisely, for it may only be activated twice.

Well wishes, my friend. I shall await thy safe return.

Urianger Augurelt

day or so after north return

[lighthaus]

[ true to his word, khun tracks down ithaqua sometime after the north returns from their excusion. it's in public too, just as he promised him it would be. ]

That was quite an entrance yesterday.

[leewards]

[With little regard for societal norms, Ithaqua is seated on one of the kitchen counters, ankles crossed and both hands cradling a glass of iced tea. His ensemble is far more casual, even if he still has a hood over his head. The whole of the manor may have seen his face, but he's still uncomfortable without something like a hood.]

Hmm. Was it that alarming? [He really doesn't get the fuss people made.]

[lighthaus]

I didn't say alarming, just that it was a way to make an entrance. [ the dragon mostly, the manastones don't make him feel anything in particular nor did solomon being almost dead. ]

How was it? [ he'll grab himself a coffee while they talk, presumably someone has a left a pot on because khun does not lift an actual finger in the kitchen. ]

The day after the North mission

[mirristry]

[Outside of Ithaqua's door he'll find a couple of bags of wizard sugar wrapped up neatly in a handkerchief. There won't be any sort of note or anything with it, but the gifter can be easily recognized by the distinct magical signature that accompanies it.

This is a thanks for the buns!]

😭

[leewards]

[stares at this forever. gingerly tucks it into a jar to never be used.

He knows Phil means well...! But he hates wizard sugar...]

week 8 after north return

[1145pm]

[ A couple of days after the Northies return and Tatara sees Solomon has a waiting list of visitors, he decides to redirect his efforts to another Northern wizard. The local cryptid!

There's a soft knock on the door, followed shortly by a sing-song: ]

It's me~

[leewards]

[It may have been a few days since their impromptu trip to the Northern country, but Ithaqua is still feeling the effects of overworking himself. He hates it, actually, he feels like he can't get ahold of his sleeping habits, he just falls asleep if he's reclined or vaguely horizontal, and without warning. Best to just stay in his room, right?

At the very least, he's awake when someone knocks on his door, even if he's more dressed down-- in nightclothes-- than people are accustomed to seeing him in. He has to scramble for one of his extra masks though, before answering the door.]

Mmh? [Tatara can't see it, but Ithaqua is squinting at him. What he can see, however, is a small frown, because the mask Ithaqua grabbed was a half-mask.]

And to what do I owe this... house call?

[1145pm]

Oops! Is this a bad time?

[ He sees the frown, but he takes a step forward anyway, smile on his face. He's carrying his tome horizontally in his hands, and resting on it are two mugs, full of liquid. ]

I just wanted to check in on you. Can I come in?

during the western trip

[divineth]

[At some point during their stay on the island, Ithaqua approached Urianger with the idea of going out to see a "movie". Seeing as it'd be a fun new experience for the both of them, Urianger had no trouble saying yes. In all honesty, he'd be happy to go out and do anything with Ithaqua, but it's especially fun when there's a solid plan in place.

So here they are on the mainland! Urianger went through effort of procuring some particularly nice robes for the occasion, though...he's likely to find himself overdressed when he realizes movies are more of a casual affair. Oh well, he just hopes Ithaqua likes it.]

Now, where would a movie theatre be located? [He muses as they walk along the shop-filled streets.] Near the live performance theatre...?

[leewards]

[Why did Urianger have to wear those robes? Ithaqua can't keep his eyes off him, even behind his mask. He blindly reaches out for Urianger's hand and misses, and then tries again because he thinks that if he doesn't touch some part of Urianger right now, he is going to explode.

Or jump on him and drag him to parts unknown.

All right, focus, Ithaqua.]

Perhaps so. [He spares a look at the shops and stalls around them, but most of his attention is on his tall, too-attractive lover. Urianger is taller than him in this occasion, Ithaqua foregoing the stilts today for an outfit that's less like his usual. He cannot afford to melt again-- thankfully sunglasses are so easy to procure, both to protect his eyes and to protect others from seeing his eyes. He probably should have looked for a hair tie, though.]

Perhaps we should keep an eye out, hm? Surely they shall announce themselves as such.

[Posters, and whatnot.]

west mission return hurt/comfort fic pls r&r

[leewards]

[So Ithaqua takes Urianger to his room-- quickly despite having to navigate the stairs, because he has his wind magic on his side, lightening his steps so he can almost fly up. Almost. It's not as if Urianger is heavy, by any means.

He has Urianger set up in his bed, uncaring of the blood, and takes his healing potions out of the cupboards to attend to him.]

Do you think you're well enough to drink on your own? You needn't speak-- a nod or stillness are enough of an answer for me.

[divineth]

[Urianger is feeling better after Ahito's healing, but he's still in need of help when Ithaqua take him into his care. As much as he wants to sit upright in bed, he's simply too worn out to do so.]

'Tis quite all right, Ithaqua. I can speak.

[He sounds rough, though. Rough, and exhausted.]

I should be able to drink.

night of the meeting

[divineth]

[It's been a few hours since the meeting, and Urianger has kept his distance from Ithaqua. Their brief but arguably nasty spat was difficult to process. As such, he'd holed himself up in his room, contemplating what happened and where he went wrong.

He knows he's not going to figure it out on his own, though. He needs to talk to Ithaqua about it, and sooner rather than later. He's respected Ithaqua's wishes to stay away, but he can't let this rift be. He can't let it grow wider.

Later into the night, he ventures upstairs and gently knocks at his boyfriend's door.]

[leewards]

[Ithaqua pauses in the middle of stuffing whatever he can into this pouch he just bought from the West markets. Who could that be?

He has to delay to put on a mask-- a good thing, when he opens the door and sees who it is, because he frowns.]

You're here. [His voice is...? Not cold, but more carefully, deliberately neutral.]