There's a sound of displeasured alarm at the sudden burst of light, Solomon jerking in protest from the bed followed by an immediate, verbal wince as he curls over on himself with a hand clenched in his hair. Ooooogh. Ohhh damn it all, his head... his body aches, he feels so cold...]
Damn it all, Bruno, must you... [What if he doesn't want to see the sun!!!!!!]
[Ugh. UGH. He's so grumpy and has all the disposition of a zombie this morning. But he still attempts to push himself up. "Attempts" being the key word. His stamina sure has taken a beating.]
[ Oh! Right, that, that's. Bruno turns away from the windows and walks quickly over to Solomon's bedside. He'll reach out to slip a hand behind the sorcerer's back and take on of his arms, slowly but surely pulling him up to sit. ]
Hang on...
[ After that, he'll move pillows around behind him, giving him something built up a bit higher and firmer to prop himself back against. ]
There. Lean back on that and let me know if that's comfortable for ya.
[He breathes out tensely at the movement, less from pain and more from the exertion needed. Even with all the healing and repair to his body, he's still running on empty in so many regards.]
Yeah... that should work just fine. Thank you.
[Coffee first, because he is still very cold and he is probably going to snap someone's arm off with his mind if he can't wake up here shortly. But as he pulls the mug into his hands, his lips thin in thought, letting the warmth settle into his skin.]
[ Lacking anything else to do now that Solomon's sitting up and drinking his coffee, he'll turn to wander and tidy up, only the offer of an apology draws him up short of doing that. Bruno turns back to give Solomon an uncertain look. ]
You... don't, actually. I, uh, I went to Tatara right after. He told me about Oz's village. Y'know, despite the hex. It took a bit of work but I got the idea across to him.
Despite the topic matter, Solomon still manages a smile, oddly genuine in comparison to the usual facade he likes to keep. What progress Bruno has made.]
Creativity makes for the strongest sort of sorcerer. I'm glad to hear you found your way.
That said... I didn't tell Tatara everything. And it doesn't change that what I did to you was unnecessary and hurtful.
Yeah, well, I like to think that my real gift is acting, so you stood no chance there.
[ That's perhaps the only positive thing to say for Bruno living such a lonely life. In the absence of people, he found other ways to fill the time. In good ways, even. Shocking, no?
But it's time to return to Solomon's bedside and find a spot on the edge to sit. If they're having this talk, he may as well be seated, and he's hardly going to putter around tidying up if this turns out to be serious. Considering Solomon's decision to hex him previously, it sure feels like it will be. ]
And I, uh, I also figured that out. Like I said, my spell wouldn't have warned me if you weren't up to something suspicious. Just... that part I couldn't get across to Tatara. So, how about you finally fess up and then we'll see about me forgiving you.
You could always ask Tatara to show you what he recorded. He had us put on a play but you'd already pulled your disappearing act.
[ me looking mournfully at skit thread hoping for it to start up again ]
Let's see, I know that Oz is the most powerful wizard around, right? That he's from the North and so is his village, but that part's obvious. Is there something special about the village?
[Recorded?? Wow, he sure missed a lot while he was out...]
Mm. Just its location. It's right next to the mountains, so it's a rather inhospitable place, even for the North.
Oz's castle is nearby, though. Normally, Oz's magic keeps the windows lit, so it acts as a deterrent for those foolish enough to challenge his protections. I suppose you could call it a scarecrow.
The castle went dark when he vanished, though. And for the wizards of the North... to find a way into power, despite the cost, isn't out of the question.
Oz had some... intense protections up, so it wasn't exactly safe to enter the building, let alone re-engage his magic. Nor was it something I wanted stragglers like Akira deciding they wanted to explore just because of my involvement.
I figured it would be best for everyone if I kept it to myself. If the other manor wizards thought the worst of me, then it would keep attention away from what I was doing, especially when the rest of you were helping elsewhere in the country.
I watched over the village in the aftermath and helped reinforce them in case of a natural or wizard-sourced backlash. The entire situation drained my magic constantly due to how strong Oz's spells are, so travelling to the Forest of Dreams ended up a daily occurrence just so I could find more mana stones to keep up.
[ Bruno won't have an outburst over how much danger Solomon knowingly went into alone. It won't help. Solomon won't care if he's upset about that. He does still give the sorcerer a sad look, of course. ]
Look, I understand not wanting to involve Akira. He's... impulsive... but you're lucky I got him to stay put the night you hexed me. He knew something was wrong.
[ Bruno isn't even sure how? Why was Akira so quick on the uptake? ]
But the rest of us? C'mon, there had to be someone you trusted to help you. Even if just to keep an eye on the village or get you mana stones so you could rest or. Or anything. You didn't have to do any of that alone and you know it.
Oh, I'm aware. He gave me a thorough piece of his mind.
[And his fist and his boot and--
...
Bruno isn't wrong, though, and it fuels the momentarily apologetic sheepishness that drifts over his eyes, before looking back down at his cup.]
Maybe. I just think... I wouldn't have been able to look Tatara in the eye again if something had happened to any of you. Or... maybe that's just what I wish to think.
[Even for as old as he is, he's still human. And his pride is still one of the only things that keeps him upright.
...]
Regardless. I would like to see if you would be willing to do a favor for me, and find time to check on them while I'm indisposed. Not on your own, please. I'd rather you have more wisdom than this old fool. But...
I have no doubts for the lengths you would go with your compassion.
[ If he could have told Akira not to bother going after Solomon... If he could have, but he couldn't even mention Solomon at the time, much less discuss him. It's Akira, though, and Akira was strangely jumpy about getting out of here after he was sure Solomon wasn't about to die. That meant something. Something happened.
Time to see if Solomon will snitch the kid out! The likelihood of him doing that: low, probably. ]
I was hoping he wouldn't... [ Bruno says that with a sigh, but he has to refocus his worries on the rest of what Solomon has to say. ] Y'know, you two are way too alike. Running off, doing your own things, not bothering to ask anyone else. Pride's a sin for a reason, Solomon, and... and not because you shouldn't be proud of what you can do or who you are or anything like that.
[ Well, there, an awkward cough follows that and he moves on. He isn't big on preaching, honest. It's sort of weird if anything. ]
But I can do that, sure. I can think of a few people who I could take along.
It's alright. It's why I took him on as an apprentice of sorts. He reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. Just... more intense of a temper, perhaps.
Besides. Demons are my specialty, Bruno. You don't need to remind me about my sins.
[smile smile smile
The coffee is brought back to his lips as Bruno continues. ]
I will handle that much. I've spent far too long strengthening my relationship with these people for me to send just any wizard out there on my behalf.
But... if you are willing to watch over them, I can send them in your direction.
As an... Solomon, are you even teaching him anything other than to be mad at you?
[ Because it seems that way, Solomon!
But he does trail off on that note because, well, the mention of demons makes him uncomfortable. Playing the King of Demons in a stupid little skit was one thing, but actual demons, being real? It's... weird and he looks away, though only briefly. ]
...um... a-anyway... I. Y'know, you can't just ask me to look in on them and then tell me they probably aren't going to trust me. I mean, I get why they wouldn't but. It isn't that I won't watch over them, I will, I just. How are you expecting that to play out?
Not recently, no. But he requested it, and he proved to me he was serious.
[Nobody likes talking about demons except for Solomon and Akira and maybe Mika if ur quick, so that's fine.
He carefully puts his mug to the side as he reaches for the bowl. Yum, breakfast.]
Mm? I didn't say they wouldn't trust you. The people themselves aren't my concern here when it comes to trusting you. If you mention me, you won't have any issues.
That's exactly why I don't want any random wizard taking advantage of that. Not everyone in this manor would put the priorities of the people first, or treat them with dignity regardless of their situation.
[ Say hello to a long, blank look when Solomon clarifies what he meant. It never fails to surprise Bruno how many people here look to him as worth that level of trust. He wonders if that'll ever change, someday, but... ]
O-oh, you. You really think that? I mean, there's, like, Akira or. Or Jing Yuan or even. I dunno, Urianger? Maybe? [ There's an uncertain pause, a second to think, then an addendum is made, ] Okay, maybe not Akira, he's a hothead.
[He snickers a little in the back of his throat as he pulls the spoon from his mouth.]
I do plan on asking Akira. But if he is angry, then I would rather he settle his heart than perform an errand out of spite, no matter how I think he might do. And I don't plan to ask him to act as any sort of leader here if there is no danger. For the care... I would leave that to people like you.
What he chooses to do is up to him. But... I think it's been an incredibly hard time for him, ever since the central mission a month ago. And while he knows how to play the hero, or even the culprit, he does not show himself much grace.
I just want to see him in a better state of mind to thrive.
[Whether it is with, or without, his involvement.]
[ Which is all he can say to that. He'll have to wait to hear from Solomon before heading out to the village, in that case, or Akira, or if he never hears, well. Solomon isn't wrong about Akira, though. Has he forgiven himself for what happened? Has he learned to let anything go?
It's undoubtedly a good thing that he doesn't know how he had treated Solomon, claiming it to be for Bruno's sake, otherwise this conversation about bringing Akira along wouldn't even be happening.
Here's hoping Akira doesn't tell on himself, right? ]
I'll head up in a week. Is the village on a map anywhere or...? Or is it one of those "oh, wow, a secret village" kind of deals?
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There's a sound of displeasured alarm at the sudden burst of light, Solomon jerking in protest from the bed followed by an immediate, verbal wince as he curls over on himself with a hand clenched in his hair. Ooooogh. Ohhh damn it all, his head... his body aches, he feels so cold...]
Damn it all, Bruno, must you... [What if he doesn't want to see the sun!!!!!!]
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[ Thus, the curtains will remain open until breakfast is finished. Enjoy the vitamin D while you can, sorcerer man. ]
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Could-- mngh, could you help me sit up, please...
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Hang on...
[ After that, he'll move pillows around behind him, giving him something built up a bit higher and firmer to prop himself back against. ]
There. Lean back on that and let me know if that's comfortable for ya.
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Yeah... that should work just fine. Thank you.
[Coffee first, because he is still very cold and he is probably going to snap someone's arm off with his mind if he can't wake up here shortly. But as he pulls the mug into his hands, his lips thin in thought, letting the warmth settle into his skin.]
...
Bruno, I... I owe you an apology.
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You... don't, actually. I, uh, I went to Tatara right after. He told me about Oz's village. Y'know, despite the hex. It took a bit of work but I got the idea across to him.
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Despite the topic matter, Solomon still manages a smile, oddly genuine in comparison to the usual facade he likes to keep. What progress Bruno has made.]
Creativity makes for the strongest sort of sorcerer. I'm glad to hear you found your way.
That said... I didn't tell Tatara everything. And it doesn't change that what I did to you was unnecessary and hurtful.
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[ That's perhaps the only positive thing to say for Bruno living such a lonely life. In the absence of people, he found other ways to fill the time. In good ways, even. Shocking, no?
But it's time to return to Solomon's bedside and find a spot on the edge to sit. If they're having this talk, he may as well be seated, and he's hardly going to putter around tidying up if this turns out to be serious. Considering Solomon's decision to hex him previously, it sure feels like it will be. ]
And I, uh, I also figured that out. Like I said, my spell wouldn't have warned me if you weren't up to something suspicious. Just... that part I couldn't get across to Tatara. So, how about you finally fess up and then we'll see about me forgiving you.
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You'll have to show me sometime. I imagine you must be quite the storyteller.
[But anyway, that's beside the point.]
Well, to start... what do you know about Oz and the village he watches over?
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[ me looking mournfully at skit thread hoping for it to start up again ]
Let's see, I know that Oz is the most powerful wizard around, right? That he's from the North and so is his village, but that part's obvious. Is there something special about the village?
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Mm. Just its location. It's right next to the mountains, so it's a rather inhospitable place, even for the North.
Oz's castle is nearby, though. Normally, Oz's magic keeps the windows lit, so it acts as a deterrent for those foolish enough to challenge his protections. I suppose you could call it a scarecrow.
The castle went dark when he vanished, though. And for the wizards of the North... to find a way into power, despite the cost, isn't out of the question.
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So if the lights went out, then the castle was in danger. You... so you went to... was that all about relighting those windows?
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Oz had some... intense protections up, so it wasn't exactly safe to enter the building, let alone re-engage his magic. Nor was it something I wanted stragglers like Akira deciding they wanted to explore just because of my involvement.
I figured it would be best for everyone if I kept it to myself. If the other manor wizards thought the worst of me, then it would keep attention away from what I was doing, especially when the rest of you were helping elsewhere in the country.
I watched over the village in the aftermath and helped reinforce them in case of a natural or wizard-sourced backlash. The entire situation drained my magic constantly due to how strong Oz's spells are, so travelling to the Forest of Dreams ended up a daily occurrence just so I could find more mana stones to keep up.
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Look, I understand not wanting to involve Akira. He's... impulsive... but you're lucky I got him to stay put the night you hexed me. He knew something was wrong.
[ Bruno isn't even sure how? Why was Akira so quick on the uptake? ]
But the rest of us? C'mon, there had to be someone you trusted to help you. Even if just to keep an eye on the village or get you mana stones so you could rest or. Or anything. You didn't have to do any of that alone and you know it.
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[And his fist and his boot and--
...
Bruno isn't wrong, though, and it fuels the momentarily apologetic sheepishness that drifts over his eyes, before looking back down at his cup.]
Maybe. I just think... I wouldn't have been able to look Tatara in the eye again if something had happened to any of you. Or... maybe that's just what I wish to think.
[Even for as old as he is, he's still human. And his pride is still one of the only things that keeps him upright.
...]
Regardless. I would like to see if you would be willing to do a favor for me, and find time to check on them while I'm indisposed. Not on your own, please. I'd rather you have more wisdom than this old fool. But...
I have no doubts for the lengths you would go with your compassion.
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[ If he could have told Akira not to bother going after Solomon... If he could have, but he couldn't even mention Solomon at the time, much less discuss him. It's Akira, though, and Akira was strangely jumpy about getting out of here after he was sure Solomon wasn't about to die. That meant something. Something happened.
Time to see if Solomon will snitch the kid out! The likelihood of him doing that: low, probably. ]
I was hoping he wouldn't... [ Bruno says that with a sigh, but he has to refocus his worries on the rest of what Solomon has to say. ] Y'know, you two are way too alike. Running off, doing your own things, not bothering to ask anyone else. Pride's a sin for a reason, Solomon, and... and not because you shouldn't be proud of what you can do or who you are or anything like that.
[ Well, there, an awkward cough follows that and he moves on. He isn't big on preaching, honest. It's sort of weird if anything. ]
But I can do that, sure. I can think of a few people who I could take along.
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Besides. Demons are my specialty, Bruno. You don't need to remind me about my sins.
[smile smile smile
The coffee is brought back to his lips as Bruno continues. ]
I will handle that much. I've spent far too long strengthening my relationship with these people for me to send just any wizard out there on my behalf.
But... if you are willing to watch over them, I can send them in your direction.
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[ Because it seems that way, Solomon!
But he does trail off on that note because, well, the mention of demons makes him uncomfortable. Playing the King of Demons in a stupid little skit was one thing, but actual demons, being real? It's... weird and he looks away, though only briefly. ]
...um... a-anyway... I. Y'know, you can't just ask me to look in on them and then tell me they probably aren't going to trust me. I mean, I get why they wouldn't but. It isn't that I won't watch over them, I will, I just. How are you expecting that to play out?
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[Nobody likes talking about demons except for Solomon and Akira and maybe Mika if ur quick, so that's fine.
He carefully puts his mug to the side as he reaches for the bowl. Yum, breakfast.]
Mm? I didn't say they wouldn't trust you. The people themselves aren't my concern here when it comes to trusting you. If you mention me, you won't have any issues.
That's exactly why I don't want any random wizard taking advantage of that. Not everyone in this manor would put the priorities of the people first,
or treat them with dignity regardless of their situation.
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O-oh, you. You really think that? I mean, there's, like, Akira or. Or Jing Yuan or even. I dunno, Urianger? Maybe? [ There's an uncertain pause, a second to think, then an addendum is made, ] Okay, maybe not Akira, he's a hothead.
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I do plan on asking Akira. But if he is angry, then I would rather he settle his heart than perform an errand out of spite, no matter how I think he might do. And I don't plan to ask him to act as any sort of leader here if there is no danger. For the care... I would leave that to people like you.
So, yes, Bruno. I really do think that.
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Oh, well, that's. I'll. I'll do my best.
[ Cough, right. Embarrassed fidgeting aside, he does have to stop and consider. If Solomon plans on asking Akira, but...? ]
I was thinking of taking Akira with me but if you, uh. If you have something else for him to do, I guess he is your apprentice.
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What he chooses to do is up to him. But... I think it's been an incredibly hard time for him, ever since the central mission a month ago. And while he knows how to play the hero, or even the culprit, he does not show himself much grace.
I just want to see him in a better state of mind to thrive.
[Whether it is with, or without, his involvement.]
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[ Which is all he can say to that. He'll have to wait to hear from Solomon before heading out to the village, in that case, or Akira, or if he never hears, well. Solomon isn't wrong about Akira, though. Has he forgiven himself for what happened? Has he learned to let anything go?
It's undoubtedly a good thing that he doesn't know how he had treated Solomon, claiming it to be for Bruno's sake, otherwise this conversation about bringing Akira along wouldn't even be happening.
Here's hoping Akira doesn't tell on himself, right? ]
I'll head up in a week. Is the village on a map anywhere or...? Or is it one of those "oh, wow, a secret village" kind of deals?
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[Getting Akira to be honest isn't quite as hard as getting Solomon to be honest, but! Lol.]
No, it's not a secret. Bring me a map of some nature and I'll show you exactly where to go. Oz's castle isn't hard to miss.
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