[ That Bruno's stalker spell on Solomon has even lasted this long without being noticed will forever be a surprise. He had expected it to either not work or be detected immediately, but somehow, somehow! It's gotten this far and, finally, that "he's being shady again" warning has pinged.
There was a lot of debate (with himself and also Rodrigo, who cutely listened while nibbling on a cracker) about what to do. Bruno is not a naturally confrontational person. The thought scares him, expecting the worst to come of it, but breaking into Solomon's room seemed no better. At least if he was direct...
If he was direct, he would at least not be acting shady like Solomon obviously is. Besides, he's already punched the guy once. He can do it again! If he has to! So! Confrontational it is! ]
...right, this is fine, this'll be fine. [ That said, he's still trying to build up courage, muttering to himself as he stops outside the door. ] Someone has to do this... it's important... you'll be okay, Bruno, c'mon... he probably won't curse you... or turn you into something... or... or anything else... terrible...
[ Aaaand here he goes, raising a hand to knock on Solomon's door. ]
[(18) means Solomon heard that voice, even if he doesn't catch every word or who it is. But he's still all smiles when he opens the door, a half-open book in one hand.]
Ah... it must be something serious, if you're being that cautious.
[Granted, Bruno was such a nervous man as a baseline, but actually thinking through an item that's visibly stressing him out means there's something else, someone else, possibly on the line. He saw that much in how he handled Akira, how the natural need for worry directed itself productively rather than destructively.
He opens the door wider, nodding Bruno inside.]
Here, go on right ahead.
[It's a cozy put oddly sparse space of a room, walls of stone and floors of old wood, a simple single bed and a small fireplace against one wall. The desk near the center of the room is stacked with books upon books, pages and bottles and quills and drawings scattered to and fro. Bookcases line one of the walls, though they seem rather bare, now housing only the odd trinket or rolls of parchment tied off with string. A small cauldron sits close to the fireplace, though it looks like it's been relatively untouched for a while. Near the window is a wooden cubby with red cushions to lounge, and several golden clocks dot the space at the mantle, on the desks, at the windows... and alongside the window sits not only a celestial globe, but a telescope as well.
In the corner opposite his desk now sits a baby grand piano that wasn't there before during the Great Bread Disaster.
Solomon carefully moves to drop the book against his bed, gesturing to one of the plush red chairs with gnarled golden feet that sit close to the fireplace.]
[ Much of Solomon's room is familiar enough. He helped fix it up again after the whole bread thing, after all. The little piano gets a curious look but that isn't why Bruno's here. He can't let himself get distracted (no matter how much he wants to go over there and poke a few keys). ]
Right. Sure.
[ After shuffling in, he'll take a seat, but waiting for Solomon to light the fireplace is a hard ask. He can only fidget nervously in that chair for so long, so as soon as Solomon lights that sucker, he blurts out, ]
[He's barely even lifted his wand to get the flames rolling out onto the coals before Bruno speaks up. The Northern wizard looks up towards him, brows raised.]
[ Oh god, please don't let his spell have backfired on him. It had such weird parameters, to begin with. ]
You're planning something, Solomon. Don't pretend you aren't. I'm literally a seer, I can. I can dig into it on my own if I have to but I. I'd rather you just talk to me, okay?
...I do...? Shoot, should I try sounding angrier...?
[ Ah, but he isn't good at that. He also isn't any good at lying, meaning he has to quickly think of a way to explain without actually, uh, explaining. Well. Give him a second. How about— ]
[ Can't wait to see what happens to Bruno when he inevitably casts his tracking spell again! ]
...that you're up to something. Look, I wasn't trying to track every single tiny thing you did, okay? I only wanted the spell to let me know when you were up to something and now I'm here, so fess up.
I mean, you know I don't blame Akira for everything that happened, but you? You messed up pretty badly and you know it.
[ It isn't a nice thing to say but Bruno is, if nothing else, an honest man. ]
So yeah, maybe I wouldn't say it's a trust thing, but I'm worried. If you make a choice that hurts other folks, or hurts you? I don't want any of that. So, yeah, yeah, I think you are doing something suspicious right now.
And I have given thousands of years of my own. So please, trust me in knowing what I'm doing.
[A beat, while he lets Bruno have whatever panic attack he needs over that info, before he continues.]
There is a situation I gave my word that I would look into, and that situation has been escalating. This has nothing to do with the others this time. [As far as he knows, at least.]
[ Whhhhuuuuh... what? Bruno needs that beat, although it's less of a panic attack and more of a long, blank stare. Thousands? Thousands?! ]
...how are... how's that...? [ Of course, in this world, he's been told wizards can live that long. It might be that way in other places, too. ] So you're. You're not, like, in your twenties or...
[ Hoo, okay. ]
Okay, sure, but. But why do you gotta be so secretive about it? I mean, the. The situation, not the age. Thing.
I'm not. I was around there when I stopped aging. Mn... maybe. Probably? [He waves a hand, dismissing the idea before it goes too far.] But that was a really long time ago. I've stopped keeping track.
[Sorry about the mini crisis there, Tio Bruno.
He considers the question with a hum and a thin frown towards the fire. But eventually, he shakes his head.]
Sorry. If I can see it through, I'll explain. But if you managed to track me, then that means I don't know who else might be doing the same. There's just some things I have to make sure gets done by my own hands, so I don't hold any regrets.
[ He can't believe Solomon is so much older than him but looks so much better, that isn't faaaiiiir. ]
I. Look, it isn't like I don't understand how that is. Trust me, I do! But what if something bad happens to you? How will we know when to look for you? Or help you?
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here we goooo
There was a lot of debate (with himself and also Rodrigo, who cutely listened while nibbling on a cracker) about what to do. Bruno is not a naturally confrontational person. The thought scares him, expecting the worst to come of it, but breaking into Solomon's room seemed no better. At least if he was direct...
If he was direct, he would at least not be acting shady like Solomon obviously is. Besides, he's already punched the guy once. He can do it again! If he has to! So! Confrontational it is! ]
...right, this is fine, this'll be fine. [ That said, he's still trying to build up courage, muttering to himself as he stops outside the door. ] Someone has to do this... it's important... you'll be okay, Bruno, c'mon... he probably won't curse you... or turn you into something... or... or anything else... terrible...
[ Aaaand here he goes, raising a hand to knock on Solomon's door. ]
We pray for Bruno, you got this buddy
Ah, Señor Madrigal! What can I do for you?
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Oh! Uh, h-hey, you can... [ Ah, he's still being formal. Yeah, that's his own fault, probably. ] Nevermind. Solomon? Can we talk? Y'know, in private?
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[What in the world brought all this on? Huh.]
Is here in my room fine, or would you like to go somewhere else?
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[ Ahem. He thinks about that for a second and then awkwardly adds, ]
Okay, wow, that makes it sound ominous. It's. Well. A-anyway, yeah, your room. That's fine.
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[Granted, Bruno was such a nervous man as a baseline, but actually thinking through an item that's visibly stressing him out means there's something else, someone else, possibly on the line. He saw that much in how he handled Akira, how the natural need for worry directed itself productively rather than destructively.
He opens the door wider, nodding Bruno inside.]
Here, go on right ahead.
[It's a cozy put oddly sparse space of a room, walls of stone and floors of old wood, a simple single bed and a small fireplace against one wall. The desk near the center of the room is stacked with books upon books, pages and bottles and quills and drawings scattered to and fro. Bookcases line one of the walls, though they seem rather bare, now housing only the odd trinket or rolls of parchment tied off with string. A small cauldron sits close to the fireplace, though it looks like it's been relatively untouched for a while. Near the window is a wooden cubby with red cushions to lounge, and several golden clocks dot the space at the mantle, on the desks, at the windows... and alongside the window sits not only a celestial globe, but a telescope as well.
In the corner opposite his desk now sits a baby grand piano that wasn't there before during the Great Bread Disaster.
Solomon carefully moves to drop the book against his bed, gesturing to one of the plush red chairs with gnarled golden feet that sit close to the fireplace.]
Sit, please. I'll get a fire started.
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Right. Sure.
[ After shuffling in, he'll take a seat, but waiting for Solomon to light the fireplace is a hard ask. He can only fidget nervously in that chair for so long, so as soon as Solomon lights that sucker, he blurts out, ]
I know you're up to something.
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I'm sorry?
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You're planning something, Solomon. Don't pretend you aren't. I'm literally a seer, I can. I can dig into it on my own if I have to but I. I'd rather you just talk to me, okay?
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Ha. You sound like a doting father, fussing like that.
[His arms lightly cross in front of him.]
What makes you think I'm planning anything?
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[ Ah, but he isn't good at that. He also isn't any good at lying, meaning he has to quickly think of a way to explain without actually, uh, explaining. Well. Give him a second. How about— ]
Let's just say the spirits gave me a heads-up.
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...
Enjoy the sensation of Solomon's magical ping as he checks...
...]
My. Have you been spying on me, Bruno?
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Ha... haha, well. Um. Y-yes?
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[He crosses one leg over the other, tilting his head.]
How long did you have that up? I didn't even notice until you said something.
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[ So it's been a bit. ]
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[Note to self, time to apply some more hexes on himself so this does not happen again.]
And what did you learn?
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...that you're up to something. Look, I wasn't trying to track every single tiny thing you did, okay? I only wanted the spell to let me know when you were up to something and now I'm here, so fess up.
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[That much is obvious as hell, but he would rather Bruno say it with his whole chest.]
Am I doing anything suspicious right now?
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[ It isn't a nice thing to say but Bruno is, if nothing else, an honest man. ]
So yeah, maybe I wouldn't say it's a trust thing, but I'm worried. If you make a choice that hurts other folks, or hurts you? I don't want any of that. So, yeah, yeah, I think you are doing something suspicious right now.
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[A pause stretches, his finger tapping against his chin as his smile thins, exhaling slowly.]
Would you take preventative measures if it meant saving a great deal of lives, Bruno?
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Solomon, I've thrown away ten years of my life trying to protect my home and my family. Of course, I would.
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[A beat, while he lets Bruno have whatever panic attack he needs over that info, before he continues.]
There is a situation I gave my word that I would look into, and that situation has been escalating. This has nothing to do with the others this time. [As far as he knows, at least.]
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...how are... how's that...? [ Of course, in this world, he's been told wizards can live that long. It might be that way in other places, too. ] So you're. You're not, like, in your twenties or...
[ Hoo, okay. ]
Okay, sure, but. But why do you gotta be so secretive about it? I mean, the. The situation, not the age. Thing.
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[Sorry about the mini crisis there, Tio Bruno.
He considers the question with a hum and a thin frown towards the fire. But eventually, he shakes his head.]
Sorry. If I can see it through, I'll explain. But if you managed to track me, then that means I don't know who else might be doing the same. There's just some things I have to make sure gets done by my own hands, so I don't hold any regrets.
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I. Look, it isn't like I don't understand how that is. Trust me, I do! But what if something bad happens to you? How will we know when to look for you? Or help you?
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