[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

[wythersake]

[ freedom to choose, to build something — he knows the talking points. knows, too, how quick he is to trade respect. ]

I'd like, [ is not what she asked ] To be something more than useful.

[sulahnan]

[ That's surprisingly relatable right there, I tell you what. ]

Valued for who you are, not what you can offer?

[ Is it silly to repeat the same thing back as a question? Maybe. But she wants to be sure she understands. She's trying to hear, more than just listen. ]

[wythersake]

Mn,

[ he says, instead of — who i am isn't great, or i don't know who that is — ]

Suppose we're all in the wrong place for that.

[sulahnan]

And the wrong time. Kinda hard to divorce your worth from what you can do during a war.

[ And in general. Athessa herself isn't sure who she is, but that's a meltdown that's happening in the future shh. ]

[wythersake]

There's always a war.

[ is needlessly gloomy, however factual. his fork clinks. a glass. moments pass, in their small way, to wind the conversation about: ]

Have you ever thought to what you'd do after this? Were it all to vanish tomorrow.

[sulahnan]

No.

[ Not beyond the answers she's explored in response to that very question. ]

To be honest I didn't ever figure I'd live this long, so thinking of the future isn't really...my strength.

[wythersake]

Maker, wait until you're thirty.

[sulahnan]

Somehow I don't think it'll change much in eight months—

[wythersake]

[wythersake]

[wythersake]

[wythersake]

Well — [ breezing past you're twenty-nine ] — Quite a deal's changed in the past eight.

[sulahnan]

True enough.

[ And, what she's settled on previously in response to the actual question: ]

Most of my friends'll be continuing to fight, so I reckon I'd wanna fight, too, if I can.

[wythersake]

[ And what will they be fighting? He doesn’t ask. Athessa pledges her loyalty to anyone who looks long enough, might name half the Gallows a friend. Half the Gallows would gut the other. ]

That’s a plan.

[ He agrees. Just smiles a little, small and — not sad, not really. It must be pleasant. ]

I’m afraid this is growing quite cold, however, so unless you care to hear a mage chew —

[sulahnan]

Right, sorry. I'll leave ya to it. Thanks for humoring me.

[ Putting up with me, she means. ]

[wythersake]

Any time, [ What have we but each other? For now. ] I do mean that.

[sulahnan]

[ Little else for it besides saying another quiet "thanks" and disconnecting the call. ]