[OPEN] Interview With A Mage

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa and you!
WHAT: Talking to Magefriends about Magic and Abominations
WHEN: August; Post-Abomination, Pre-Modplot
WHERE: Around the Gallows
NOTES: none yet

i. colin

It's one of the days that sees Athessa helping out in the apothecary, which means busy hands but a mind free to wander. She's separating the buds from dried, woody stems to place each into jars for their individual uses when she speaks:

"I've been thinking a lot about what happened..."

ii. kostos

This isn't a conversation that is going to happen organically. After reading through some esoteric writings on magic in the library, she gives up for a time and stalks off to find Kostos.

"Oi," she calls to him, jogging to catch up with him. "Got a minute?"

iii. isaac

[ Some late night crystal call when Athessa's eyes get tired of reading ]

Isaac, can I pick your brain a bit?

iv. derrica

[ They've had their fair share of difficult conversations of late, and this one bodes no different. The kicker, of course, is that it's far more personal to Derrica than it is to Athessa, so when the latter seeks out the former, she comes bearing gifts. Little spiced cookies and coffee over ice - does Derrica drink coffee? ]

It's not spice cake, but the flavor is pretty close.

v. wildcard/bring out your mage

[ either hmu on disco or plurk and i'll make a starter for you or wildcard me, whichever! ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

"And he's my friend," she says. But, why split hairs, eh?

[thereneverwas]

"Oh, I'm sure he's fine," Barrow chirps, waving his hand, "I just don't like sharing."

[sulahnan]

Pshh. Okay, Barrow. Athessa shakes her head, but there's a twist to her mouth that hints at amusement. And a little bemusement.

"So you're just... fine with the sky falling?

[thereneverwas]

He laughs.

"Well," he muses, "not a lot I can do about it personally. And if it falls on me, I imagine I won't be upset for long."

[sulahnan]

"Don't you ever think like, what if there is something you can do, and you just don't know it?"

[thereneverwas]

He purses his lips, pauses. And shrugs.

"I suppose I'll do it, assuming someone tells me in time."

[sulahnan]

"Why not try to find it out yourself? If you can do something, but don't know it, and nobody ever tells you, and you never use your power for good, wouldn't you feel a little bit responsible?"

[thereneverwas]

He groans faintly, resting his head back on the pillow.
"Please," he sighs, but with an amiable glint in his eye, "don't push me, I'm very injured."
His thumb scratches under LFT's chin.

[sulahnan]

Athessa isn't letting up, and though it's an extension of his protest, she's far too earnest for this to not be important.

"Consider it an exercise, then."

[thereneverwas]

"What? Consider what an exercise?"

[sulahnan]

"Me pushing you."

[thereneverwas]

He laughs a little. "You're supposed to be nice to me."

[sulahnan]

She doesn't. "And we're supposed to be doing the right thing. Not just waiting for someone else to do it for us."

[thereneverwas]

When he sees how serious she is, Barrow sighs deeply, signaling his defeat. There's clearly no escaping this.

"All right," he concedes with grudging humor, "got it. Yes ma'am."

lol byeeee

[sulahnan]

Oh, how she'd like to fight him right now. To argue, press the issue, force him to say in his own words that none of this is important enough or whatever it is he's saying when he says that whatever happens, happens. But he is still recovering from torture, he is prescribed bedrest and she's pretty sure that riling up a patient is bound to put her on Sawbones' bad side.

So she responds to his heavy sigh with her own shallow one, barely a huff of breath through her nose, and disentangles herself from the chair. LFT receives a cheek scratch for his dedication, and she hesitates there briefly before placing a gentle hand on Barrow's shoulder.

"Get some rest," she says quietly, and gives him a light peck on the forehead before she can stop herself. The book she brought is fetched up on her way out, and the door left open a crack.

[thereneverwas]

"I--" he starts to protest, but, silenced by the kiss on his forehead, decides it isn't worth nettling her further.
Still, he's not as dumb as he likes to pretend he is, and Barrow rubs at his temple as he watches Athessa leave, knowing this is not the last time the topic will arise.
He'll just have to... stall it until he has a better answer, perhaps.

As LFT turns a circle and settles back down into a purring, squinting loaf, Barrow rests a hand atop him and mutters, "what're you looking at."