Floor 5, Room 3

[leewards]

ITHAQUA

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[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?

[leewards]

... Very well. [It's clear that Tatara is here for a very specific reason, and he might as well get it over with. Ithaqua steps back to let him in, and gestures to the nearest surface available for sitting-- the plush couch.] Feel free to sit.

I would offer something, but clearly, you've already brought tea.

... I suppose I can offer some buns. [He does have a few leftover, thankfully they haven't gone stale yet.]

[1145pm]

I wasn't really sure if you wanted coffee or tea, so I bought a cup of both. I'll take whatever you don't take.

[ He'll gently set the book down on the couch beside him, and the mugs surprisingly don't spill. He may always be putting things on surfaces where they don't belong...

His attention moves to the buns— ]

Oh, yay! [ His face lights up. ] Wait, you were the one that made those? They were so good!

[leewards]

Indeed I did-- ah, you didn't notice, did you. [Right, because he can't perform magic... So he doesn't recognize signatures. He should have remembered that, but with the amount of people he was thinking about, he really... didn't have much thought to spare on that.] Haaah, and no one even told you.

[Oh well, whatever.]

Yes I made them myself, from the preserves to the bread. [Then he sets the little plate down for Tatara. The buns are a little... squished, on account of Ithaqua making sure they're still nice and soft. Then he tilts his head at the mugs, and reaches for the tea.]

[1145pm]

Wow... You're so skilled. Respect.

[ Now he can bake cookies for Ithaqua later as thanks, because that's how this works!

He'll gently take the plate of bread with a word of thanks and he'll take the coffee for himself. Yum! ]

You're looking a lot better than when you first came back from the North. How are you feeling?

[leewards]

Urianger's healing and a good night's sleep has helped immensely.

[Look, he didn't realize he had bruises until he took his clothes off... but they're all gone now, as evidenced by his bare limbs being... well, bare.]

However, I'd used more magic than I thought, and like the others I will need a few more days to rest. [But at least he can actually move around without feeling like someone had trampled him.]

[1145pm]

Oh, good! I'm glad to hear it.

[ Urianger, though? That's an unexpected name. He didn't expect them to be close, so he makes a mental note of that (this is foreshadowing).

He smiles! ] Yeah. Your job right now should be concentrating on recovering. If you need help getting to your mana area, maybe you could ask Urianger for a hand in that, too?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua shakes his head as he cradles his mug with both hands, waiting for it to cool a little before drinking.]

No need. The nearby forest is close enough that an escort is not needed. [And he can just sleep outdoors... No big deal... It's happened before... (He had Robin though.)]

I also still have my amulet, in case of emergencies. [A pause, then:] But I appreciate the suggestion. [Look, he's making an effort to just not have friction with the sage. Many others, he doesn't give a damn. But someone who is technically his boss? Hmm.

Then another damn pause. Despite the mask, he looks pensive, his lips downturned.]

Our mission in this world is almost done, is it not? Only the wizards of the West have yet to restore their predecessors. [And then, after that... What comes after?]

[1145pm]

[ Tatara nods, satisfied with that. So long as Ithaqua has a handle on himself and his own sitch, then Tatara won't push it. Good cryptid!

He's about to move onto his next order of business when he sees Ithaqua's lips fold into a frown, so he holds it back. He tilts his head, gazes at him curiously. ]

Theoretically, yeah. I don't know what troubles have been brewing in the West because of whatever moon stone they might have, but I'm guessing we'll hear about it soon.

[ After a pause. ]

What's up?

[leewards]

What comes after? Will the wizards who came before us send us home?

[Which means he'll leave here forever and return to the quiet, dark, dreary forest and be alone once more. But if he doesn't return, what will happen to his mother?

He sighs heavily, and waves a hand.]

Do not mind me, I was thinking out loud. [More like having serious second thoughts about this whole missions, and a heaping of guilt over said second thoughts.]

[1145pm]

That's the plan.

[ He studies Ithaqua for a moment. That's not the kind of happy sigh he'd expect to hear from the prospect of going home.

Tatara takes a quick sip of his coffee, then leans forward to get a better look at him. Unfortunately, he's now minding Ithaqua. ]

Is there something wrong with that?

[leewards]

[Was it a mistake to mention this to Tatara? Perhaps. He expects results out of Ithaqua after all. If he mentions these misgivings, perhaps Tatara would consider him a problem.

But he got himself into this mess because he cannot hold his tongue. He might as well go all the way.]

The land I come from is dark, cold, and quiet-- and I an responsible for its quiet, as protector of that forest. But that also means that I am alone. [He hates admitting that, and it shows with the way he drags the word out of his mouth, the one hitch in an otherwise perfectly neutral tone.] Here, I have people I speak to, who wish me well, who are simply around as companionship without asking for much in return. Giving that up will be difficult, because I am aware that I shall return to the quiet and monotony.

But if I do not return to my forest, who is to care for my mother.

[1145pm]

[ Tatara sighs into his steaming cup of coffee. It isn't out of disappointment, as immediately obvious, but out of concern.

On the contrary, he's not doing his job if he doesn't hear out the things that trouble his wizards. ]

That is a conundrum... [ He taps his finger against the warm ceramic, debating how much he should say, but he thinks it's worth mentioning. ]

I've been trying to find a way to tether people to this world, somehow. Or other people to other worlds.

[ Just putting that on the table. ]

Your mother's important, but it's going to be hard to lose the connections you made here. Ideally you'd wanna keep both somehow, right?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua perks up a little upon hearing that, sitting up straight, eyes trained on Tatara, even if they're hidden behind his spare mask. This is honestly the best news he's heard in so long and it shows, his tone full of interest, curiosity, and just a tinge of hope.]

Truly?

What do you need for that venture? [If it means not losing the connections he's made here, of course he will put everything he has into it.]

[1145pm]

[ Truly. Tatara gives an earnest nod and a wide-eyed expression of genuineness. Not one of his usual smiles. Not that he doesn't approach most things with a degree of earnestness, this is a special case. ]

That's what I'm still trying to figure out. [ Here, he taps his finger to his chin. ] Magic is pretty complicated, especially since I can't use it. I'm trying to consider every option I can, though.

[ Suddenly, he laughs, because he had a funny thought. ]

If only it was as easy as just, like, tying you to this world with some string and glue.

[leewards]

If only we could ask the previous mentor. [Which is... unfortunate. But they have another mentor, do they not?]

Does G'raha know about this plan?

[Ithaqua is also thinking, perhaps there's a way to do just what Tatara wants, if they can tap into the location that brought G'raha here in the first place.]

[1145pm]

[ Mm, it would have been a lot easier if they could ask Lazuli... It's a shame. But in that regard, all he gives is a little smile, his internal thoughts on their last mentor's disappearance unreadable otherwise. ]

About tethering you somehow? He knows I'm trying to send everyone back.

[leewards]

And yet not tethering us here... [Perhaps he should ask G'raha? but he's going to forget about this because things get busy...

He shakes his head. He'll set that aside for later.]

Whatever assistance you need for this venture, I'll offer it to you.

[He's determined to make this work. Tatara might even hear a hint of desperation in his tone... but can anyone blame him?]

[1145pm]

Thanks, Ithaqua. I'll let you know right away.

[ Tatara smiles, nods. Once he gets a clearer picture of things, then he'll come to Ithaqua with more info, for sure. Though now that he thinks about it, there's a good handful of people he'll need to talk to about this...

Putting a pin in that. Anyway— ]

Also, I wanted to ask you something. Do you mind?

[leewards]

[Another question? Perhaps he came here specifically for this, aside from specifically wanting to see how Ithaqua was doing after the unexpected trip.

Of course, colour him curious...]

What are you to ask me?

[1145pm]

You were the one that found Oz in the castle, right? [ He remembers Ithaqua climbing into his window to tell him, but he wants to make sure his memory is correct. ]

Who did you tell afterwards?

[leewards]

Yes. [Ithaqua sits up straighter, because this might turn serious.]

Comet, Ahito, Joyous Day, and Jing Yuan. Did any of them do anything untoward?

[Was his trust misplaced? Does he need to murder someone now?]

[1145pm]

[ He shakes his head. ]

You're fine. I was just comparing notes with another wizard and realized I didn't know who found out from who. But this helps.

[ He smiles! ]

Thanks, Ithaqua. I'm glad you're recovering well.

[leewards]

[That's not ominous at all. Ithaqua is silent for a moment, just looking at him, studying him, before he gives a single nod.]

Your concern and visit are appreciated.

[1145pm]

[ Tatara, in contrast, is somewhat enigmatic as usual. He just looks at Ithaqua in return, his smile faint and not at all hinting towards what he might be thinking. If he really is keeping something from him (spoiler: he isn't, he's just like this). ]

Mm-hmm, of course. You're my wizard, after all!

[ He gives a little wave and whirls on his heel, making his way to the door. ]