wizardmanor | Floor 2, Room 3

First, you let us in.

[ He shoves Day playfully out of the way and steps into the room. There's a moment where his eyes survey the furniture, the familiarity of it all - and he wonders if Day still plans on leaving. Will he ever see Day's room again after...? ]

So I have a theory. Phil and Tatara agree with me - but we think binding you to this world is the key to solving our problems.

[Phil nods, following Ginger inside. It's far from his first time in this room; somehow over the last few weeks it's begun to feel like home to him, although perhaps that's just due to the fact that it's Day's.]

There's a concept in my world where the people who are exoflected into it are encoded, so to speak-- think of it as them being adapted to fit into the laws of nature of the new world. If we can do a similar thing here - make a part of you a part of this world - then it might be the solution you've been seeking.

[ Since the last time Ginger's been in the room, he might notice some additions that make it a little more clear that someone else besides Day has been spending a lot of time here. One corner of the tea table has a stack of books that seems set to keep growing, and there are more combs and brushes on the dresser than someone with Day's hair would need. Phil would know why.

Day ushers the two of them to go take a seat. ]

I talked with G'raha and we had a similar idea. If there's somethin' to anchor me here, then arcane fate can't hide my fate from everyone who's been touched by this world, even if it was for just a while.

Just...well, even written records of me won't survive, so it has to be somethin' more intangible while still bein' meaningful.

[ Ginger lets Phil take a seat before he takes one himself - ladies and frail old gays first. ]

That's why we're going with memories. Well - just one memory, I guess. [ He looks at Phil for confirmation. ] We're thinking... a memory of this world and ideally, something at night.

[ Because celestials, stars, etc... ]

And we'll store it in two parts.

The stronger the memory, the better. It should have more power that way.

[He's already got an idea of a memory that might work, but he holds his tongue-- this should be Day's decision, after all. It needs to be a memory that holds particular meaning to him.]

And given that magic here comes from the heart, I would think a memory that has a significant positive association with it would be the best choice.

[Now it's his turn to glance over at Ginger for agreement.]

[ ...A significant positive association, huh... ]

I think I have a pretty good idea for that.

[ Mildly embarrassing if Ginger ends up seeing it too, but some a small price to pay. (Sorry Ginger.) ]

[ You know, Day doesn't even have to say it. Ginger figured. ]

... If you think I only asked Phil to help with the magic part... Anyway, he'll handle the more intimate memories if that's what you're picking from. I'm not here to peek at anything.

[ He nods at Phil, and takes out the jewelry box with their vessels. ]

You want to show him, Phil?

[HEY WOW he was thinking strictly of G-rated memories here!! But now he's turning pink, thanks you two.]

Y-yes, of course.

[Just going to be taking the box from Ginger and opening it to show Day what's inside--

... which would be two delicate charms, small enough to be worn either as earrings or hung from a chain as a necklace.]

We were thinking of storing the memory inside of these-- one part in each one, to be worn as a necklace or an earring. One of them would be for you, and the other for me. Think of them as being a vessel of sorts to contain a memory given form, hence the orb in the middle.

[ Day was thinking of something strictly G-rated too, okay! Ask Ginger what he was thinking of.

He still going to chuckle a little at Phil turning pink, though. Never change, Phil. ]

It's pretty romantic. [ Basically a couple's set, isn't it? ] But this should work, yeah.

[ G-rated doesn’t mean it can’t be intimate?? What conclusions are these two jumping to, ]

And while you’re concentrating on this memory, try to do so as your chosen identity - whoever you choose to be.

[ He’s assuming Phil knows, but he’s not going to say any names. ]

All of these little, but very meaningful things - I think they’ll help act as the glue.

[It's mostly Day's fault, Phil is an innocent bystander here, no]

Perhaps you and I should each hold one while he does? It might help add an extra boost to the magic to have our own feelings for Day in the mix as well.

[ Phil, weren't you the one who assumed they made that assumption first... ]

And I just have to concentrate on the memory while usin' my magic? [ Presumably? This is uncharted territory for Day (and, presumably, all of them to some degree). ]

It’ll be us with the magic. You just have to concentrate on the memory and believe in yourself - and in us. Can you do that?

[ Phil’s suggestion is a reasonable one, but… ]

Wouldn’t his feelings for you be stronger?

In a romantic sense, yes. But those aren't the only type of strong feelings there are.

[He's well aware of just how important Ginger is to Day, too, even if Day doesn't love Ginger in the same way he loves Phil.]

[ Well, Phil isn't wrong, even if Day had an Adventure getting his feelings to where they are now. He wouldn't say it anywhere outside closed doors (much like how he loves Tatara as a friend) but he still loves Ginger as someone dear to him, even if they aren't in love. ]

...I think Phil's got a point. [ And this isn't just boyfriend bias talking. ] 'Sides, you're plannin' on stayin' here. [ In a sense, wouldn't their bond also be a sort of anchor? So involving Ginger's own feelings too would make sense. ]

Valid, but Phil’s still the one carrying the other half of the memory.

[ But he shakes his head, if they insist… He gets up from his seat and kneels down. ]

Let me set up the circle…

[ It’s something he had done with Solomon, using a simple array of his own magic to amplify Solomon’s - and he thinks it’ll work here, too, since they’re doing some pretty powerful stuff. Not to mention, he doesn’t know how stable Phil’s magic is currently. The magic circle is written in red magic stark against Ginger’s very blue eyes, woven like thread rather than chalk. When he’s done, he gestures for them all to stand in it. ]

Tell All One’s Heart.

[Taking his own place in the circle, Phil raises his fingers to brush against his monocle.

Focus, focus.

He's no stranger to magic circles, and even with his magic still less potent than he would really like it to be, his feelings for Day are strong enough that he's confident in his ability to do at least this much. If there's one thing that he doesn't have any doubt in, it's this.]

Spectemur Agendo.

[His own magic flows out to support and reinforce that circle, weaving with Ginger's like threads in a tapestry.]

[ Day steps into the circle as instructed, and while he knows Ginger told him he only needed to concentrate on the memory for this ritual, he doesn't think it'd hurt to add a little support to the array. In the end, they're trying something powerful and new, after all. (It doesn't escape his notice that Phil is using magic for the first time in a month, either.)

He calls for his prayer beads, which are wrapped around his left wrist. ]

Amor manet.

[ Day's magic joins theirs, in it's usual, subtle way; knowable only because of how it gently fits itself in with the other two, like filling in the metaphorical gaps in between. ]

[ He waits for all the threads to come together, delicate lines of what normally would be data and power turned magic. Combined, they form solidly into rope, strong in their beliefs and further twisting and knotting into macrame. Colored by Ginger’s red, it’s reminiscent of the thread of fate - and even now, even focused like this, he has to smile faintly at the symbolism of it all. ]

… Almost…

[ And there - the moment where everything stabilizes, their combined magic thrumming in harmony.

He gives Phil a nod. Good, he’s glad the man has pulled through for Day. ]

This isn’t going to be anything fancy, alright? Nothing like your ritual. Next: we establish the connection between you and us and here - so. Whose memory are we going with?

[ Day’s? Moss’? He takes one of the vessels from Phil and places it in Day’s palm, curling his own hand over for what they do best together - hold hands. Since the other two had insisted, he’ll do what’s asked. He waits for Phil to do the same, then reaches out for Phil’s free hand. In his pocket, his amulet - dandelion wishes - pulse steadily. ]

Say the word, Phil.

[Phil nods and holds one hand out to Day, his own vessel clasped gently yet securely in his palm to fit between their joined hands. With the other he takes Ginger's offered hand, giving it a slight squeeze of thanks as he does, a silent show of gratitude both for Ginger's help in this particular endeavor as well as for the friendship he's shown Day during their time there. He may not know all of the specifics, but what he does know - the only part that really matters - is that Ginger has been there for Day even before he himself was in the picture.

The fact that their array has arranged itself into the beautiful interknit pattern that it has speaks volumes, he thinks.]

I'm ready whenever you are.

[ Maybe it's a sign of Day's poor sense of humor that even in these circumstances, some part of him is delightfully amused. Maybe it's because he didn't ever think he'd be in this situation where he's holding hands with two of the people most dear to him, but here he is.

Day carefully takes the vessel Ginger hands over to him and lets that hand be held by Ginger like they've done so many times before, while his free hand squeezes Phil's, filled with warmth. ]

...Let's go with Day's.

[ Because "Joyous Day" has gained so much more meaning here, especially for a name he'd picked simply because he liked how it sounded.

"May there be more joyous days for the both of us ahead."

"It's a name you picked? Well, it's a nice one. It matches you."

"Moss" isn't any less important, but it's for different reasons. Reasons that have more to do with home than anything here. ]

Edited (When I notice bad word choice hours later,) 2024-06-22 20:32 (UTC)

[ Once the circle is complete, the three of them are connected in a way Ginger usually shies away from. For all that he acts sociable, he’s not the type to let many close. It’s disinterest rather than any real social anxiety: he has his set list of important people and that’s enough for him.

So allowing Day, and thus allowing Phil in, even just a step through the door, is… new.

But Day has felt right from the very start - and he’s glad that Day is who’s chosen now. ]

Good choice. I’m not being biased at all.

[ The magic waits, settled comfortably, for words - for images - for feelings that are wholly of the Day who belongs to this world now, as much as his own. ]

[Phil hums his agreement, the sound quiet and warm. While he would of course respect whatever choice Day made, that particular name holds a deeper meaning to him than the other. It is, after all, the name he'd paired with the words "I love you," a phrase he finds himself hoping to be able to repeat many times in the future.

Even in the end, he's still a little selfish... but maybe this time that's all right.]

I agree... it suits you well.

[He's certainly brought no end of joy to Phil, something Phil has no shame in admitting.]

Definitely ain't biased at all.

[ Said playfully to the both of them. But...he's happy they think the name suits him still.

Day closes his eyes, and thinks of the memory he wants to put in this vessel the most: the night of the meteor shower, where he and Phil sat close next to each other with their fingers laced together. How he had felt so overwhelmed with cathartic joy he'd so rarely experienced that he had nearly forgotten what it was like when Phil said "I do" in all the ways it could mean, and for the first in a long time he thought serenity was within his grasp.

(Other memories also slip in, because Day can't help it when he thinks of things that make him want to be remembered. Drinking with Yamato in his room; Ginger and him sitting by the window with wine-filled mugs. Holding onto Tatara's hand as the sage guided him through the scenery of his home and they watched that blimp in the sky that made the city look like a birthday cake. Akira tucking the sunflower behind his air. The look Kurapika had when he told him he reminded Day of his sister. Little and not-so-little things that Day found himself wishing he could be remembered for, things that were only possible because fate brought him to this world.) ]

[ The memories fill both vessels, each one a dense drop of color that paints the ocean canvas in rainbows and permanence. Covered as they are, he can’t see if the earrings change color, and distracted as he is by the memories, he doesn’t think to look just yet.

It is, perhaps, these memories that alone seem small, almost mundane - that should weigh nothing to a long-lived life - that makes him appreciate… experiencing them, even in this secondhand way. Even pennies weigh heavy when one adds them up; and the loss is felt when a single one is missing.

In his hands, these memories are far more precious than anything, and he hopes he can keep them safe. And - he hopes - by doing this, Day will understand his importance to Ginger, to Phil. ]

Floor 2, Room 3

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