30. The Next Step
General Summary
Ta'lok goes down the hallway of their rooms, rapping on doors.
BAMBAMBAM
"Up and at 'em, meeting in ten," he calls. Then he hangs out in the hall, arms folded, while they all come out in various states of readiness.
Mirage did not go sleep easily and is sluggish as heck. The boss has to literally go in and throw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes to get her to move.
Warlock's not answering the knock even though everyone here knows he's not sleeping, so Ta'lok goes in to collect him (rogue over shoulder begging to at least be allowed to get coofffeeeeeee first) and it's empty.
But he shows up in the hallway a minute later, coffee mug in hand and books under arm. Gives a brief eyebrow raise but he doesn't look guilty at all, just like "oh, didn't realize we were having a meeting already, onesec lemme put these down."
He passes the mug to Mirage where she's hanging over Ta'lok's back with a smirk "you need it more than me"
Unintelligible grumbles. She somehow drinks it while Ta'lok is standing mostly-still doing a head count.
Laith is also awoken for meeting, but lingers in his doorway like he's not sure if it was a mistake. Ta'lok catches his eye.
"You too, kid. Getting you home is on the to-do list. If people cooperate-" pointed look at the warlock "-it won't take long, then you can get back to your R&R. Mirage, where' sthe closest room that can fit all of us?"
Mirage grumbles directions from over his shoulder, and the boss starts moving out. She continues to direct from her inverted position.
"Left here. No, my left."
They pass Erik. he clocks a meeting and just waves, wordlessly impressed at how alert Marwa is this early in the morning, thanks to her friends. Then he goes to get snacks and coffee/tea/water sent in.
They enter a room that is mostly occupied by a huge, low, sectional sofa that forms a ring around a few low tables. Cushions and throw blankets litter the entire room, including the floor.
Ta'lok marches to the sofa and plonks Mirage down on a couch, flips her so she lands on her back, and she air-cushions herself for the landing to avoid spilling a single drop of coffee.
Saeldor reclines, but Mirage is NOT allowed to lay back down even though these couches are hella comfortable and there's a pillow RIGHT. THERE. Not until the coffee kicks in.
Ta'lok's still got his enormous mug of black coffee that he grabbed after crack-of-dawn training, Mirage is slurping at the somewhat-surprisingly sweet cup from the warlock.
Erik has carafes of coffee, tea, a pitcher of water, and mugs/cups to drink them with sent in, along with two big trays of breakfast finger food and snacks: sticky buns, fruit, yogourt, fried potatoes, sausage rolls and egg bites on a warmer, freshly baked bread & pitas, etc.
Saeldor will go for a cuppajoe and load up a plate, food here's good. I feel like she's a light breakfast person. probably gets herself some toast and fresh fruit, cup of green tea with honey. She'll take in the aroma while it cools enough to drink, just patiently waiting, ready to listen.
Mika grabs a corner spot on the big sectional couch deal, fixes himself up another 3 'n 3. maybe fixes something simple with toast and some cold cuts. Doesn't take much time about it. He watches the boss, visibly ready for an argument. its not sullen, just like "a'ight, come at me then."
Ta'lok's thinking to himself 'I don't get paid enough for this.' he lets people get settled, get most of the way through their meals before he says, "Alright. Last night was a breather, but we're not done. Mirage, where are you and Laith at with the Teeth?"
She peers at Laith over her mug. He looks back, but waits to see if she's gonna say anything.
"Laith and I talked a little bit." Slow sip of coffee. "I ended up writing to the Teeth, real short and sweet. Told them that we'd been wrongfully imprisoned, and that we'd come across several pieces of evidence that proves Amir's entanglement with the fey and the infernal. Also that if they want to see the evidence for themselves, they're welcome to come here, but we're not shipping those journals out."
Mika's listening, he nods at that last point. It's smart choices.
She looks over at Laith. "And I asked that Laith and I be allowed to cry punishment, if Amir is found guilty."
Laith nods. He's had some time to think about that part of it. "I don't know too much about how this stuff works here," he says, "but from what your folks were saying, it seems like they'll probably agree to that."
Mirage nods.
Ta'lok nods too. "They'll be on their way, then. When did you send the letter?"
"The night we got here."
Jumping brows around the room
She looks around, defensive. "What? I wasn't going to sleep knowing that fucker was just chilling at home. He needs to be brought to justice."
"Uh, how long does mail take around here?" - Laith
"Real fast," Mirage answers, "I haven't heard anything, but they may have already replied. Should have checked with Pops."
"Sooner's better than later," says Mika, at slightly lower than speaking volume, over the rim of his mug. "Less time for fucker to get a story straight. Or bolt."
He is interrupted by a knock on the parlour door.
"Ma'am? We're here with the Teeth of the Wind, responding to correspondence we received two days ago regarding an incident of kidnapping. May we come in?"
The room goes silent. Mirage's eyes go huge. She's still in her pyjamas
Mika has that thing where he starts to laugh mid-coffeedrink and has to swallow quick before he can chuckle.
"At least I'm not on the run this time," she mutters under her breath. Between her PJs and her bedhead it's pretty obvious that Mirage was recently and rudely awoken. She glares at the boss.
Cri rotates her head, amused but sympathetic. "We could ask them to wait a moment if you want to get dressed," she offers. Like most Aurian homes, this one has few dead-ends. Mirage eyes the side door that she knows connects to stairs that also connect to their rooms. She could slip out if she wanted.
Just as Cri offers that, Mirage hears Erik greeting the newcomers.
"Friends, please! Welcome. It's a pleasure to have you here. If you'll just follow me, I'm sure Marwa will be down in just a moment."
She looks at Cri, downs the rest of her coffee in one gulp, and bolts.
Saeldor slowly stands. The room and furniture all look like they were made for someone with their height and build, so they're very comfortable here. They nod their head to the other doorway, indicating that they should maybe go join Erik & the Teeth.
Laith will go along with them. He's presentable. His cloud-hair doesn't need a comb, and he threw on a quick shirt and pants when Ta'lok woke them up because he doesn't know these people well enough to chill in pyjamas with them. Mika's dressed cause he was up all night, but he probably changed into something more comfortable than party clothes in the small hours of the morning.
Cri is comfortable. Her PJs and robe can pass for comfy clothes and a cardigan, but also she just doesn't sweat that stuff. its whats inside that interests her, and what matters
Erik lets the Teeth in, and their leader, a half-drow wearing the insignia of a Wing Commander, greets the party with two raised hands, which is more standard than a bow around Auria. You don't bend for others, but you can express your openness and good intentions via open palms, being obviously unarmed, etc.
Except they are armed, they all are, but the weapons are sheathed and peace-bonded. The Wing Commander is here with four airmen. They make a round of polite introductions around the room.
The commander's name is Freedom. They offer a simple handshake and "Akadi's grace upon you" for each of them, but the only name that seems to catch their attention is Laith's, to whom he adds that it is good to see him free in the open.
As they're being introduced, Lydia and the other dads enter. Everyone starts to stand reflexively as Lydia comes into the room, but she waves it off, her voice as big as it is nonchalant.
"Welcome, welcome to my home. Do not stand on my account, only if that is what you wish."
Alejandro enters behind her, with a nod for Ta'lok, whom he's already bid a good morning earlier, he turns to size up the Teeth of the Wind and their leader. Julius files in with a coffee cup already in hand. The mug is one Erik gave him, it says "this is my GOFAST potion" and they both think its different degrees of funny because J does not have a GOFAST mode. For his own part, Erik is in work mode, extending the hospitality food and drink to the Teeth, making sure everyone has a place to sit, keeping an eye on the atmosphere.
When Mirage enters, the Wing commander seems to know her on sight, giving her a scrutinizing look as they shake her hand. Having introduced herself and drawn most of the eyes in the room, Marwa makes her way over to Laith and takes a seat next to him. She affects calm, but her jaw is clenched, her fist tight. Hovering over her shoulder, Nimbus sends her feelings of support, protection. She takes a breath.
"I assume you're here about my letter."
The Wing Commander nods, pleased to get right to business. "Correct. We understand you have evidence to support your claims."
"Aside from several eyewitness accounts, yeah. The journals. Dad, did you grab those on your way in by chance?"
Neither of them were especially large books. Julius holds them up like showing two playing cards.
The wing commander holds out a hand in a gesture to hand them over. Julius exchanges a confirming glance with mirage, then circles around and hands them over.
Commander Freedom thanks him, passes the books off to one of the airmen, then addresses Laith and Marwa.
"Now, we could all sit in silence while me and my airmen catch up with the reading, but how about you just let us know what we're going to find in there and we read it for ourselves after we're done here?"
"Happy to. Our boy Amir kidnapped Laith and I, per his journal, to conduct a ritual that would involve splicing our half-djinni souls together in order to produce another body for himself, should he ever die or be reset."
As she speaks, the air in the room stills. Static crackles through an eerie, windless silence as Lydia's eyes blaze an electric blue. The hair on people's arms and necks raise.
"He collaborated with his patron, a Cambion of some kind, and several fey entities in order to-" she pauses as the Warlock raises an index finger.
"Point of order," he says calmly, "Cambion wasn't in on it, knew fuckface was up to something but not what. Probably a mook for whatever bigger bad he's actually working for. Being tied up with the devil is its own bag of cats, though." He settles back into the sofa with a "go on" gesture for Marwa, who gives him a grateful look before continuing.
"-in order to kidnap both of us, tattoo us with arcane tracking devices, and hold us against our will. "That journal right there is all infernal, and I'll be honest, I didn't feel like touching it, so. Have fun with whatever you find in there."
She pauses, looking to the other genasi at her side. "Did I leave anything out, Laith?"
Laith thinks a sec. "I didn't get a tattoo, but I also didn't get any conditional release. I guess miss Jadeira can back us up on all this, too." he muses. This gets a slight 'yeah, true' kind of headtilt from the Commander as he listens.
"It was a buncha fey brought me in. Quick as you like, couldn't even keep an eye on them. Caught me on my own and next thing I know I'm getting chucked in a cell and told to sit tight. Thought it was a basement til you got me out. I mean, I guess it was, but you know, in the ground"
"Broke his leg, did not receive any medical attention." Mirage follows up immediately. "I was in solitary for weeks, so that was fun."
One of the airmen is taking notes of all of this. None of them are being terribly emotionally reactive, but its clear they're all taking your story seriously. As she watches them take the story down, Marwa's eyes linger over their commander. They look familiar.
Mirage's grin turns sly, self-satisfied. "Commander, have we met before?"
He regards you with minor irritation. "Maybe when you blew a hole in the hull of my ship?"
Mika has to engage fast reflexes to avoid snorting his coffee again.
"No, you mean when the elemental you chained to the bottom of your ship and forced to act as your "vault" tore a hole in the bottom of your ship. I just flew through it."
"Wait, the elemental? You didn't summon it?"
"Nope. Freed them. Wonder how Cobbles is getting on these days..." Mirage looks absently out one of the many windows, wondering when they'll have time for toenail-painting in Terra. After finding a Wish, she supposes. Behind the sofa, all four of her parents are absolutely beaming with pride.
Freedom is frowning, has no reason to think you'd lie in this context. It would explain why there wasn't even rubble of the vault left in the ship. they're upset by the revelation, not mad at you for revealing it.
"That complicates things."
they glance aside at the airman that's taking notes, making sure this is in the record (it is).
They ask some followup questions, specifics of what Mirage and Laith saw - which the rest of the party contributes to, as well - and descriptions of any individuals involved like the fey who grabbed Laith or the soldiers who arrested Mirage. They fill in what they can. Lydia's had more letter correspondence with Jadeira than Marwa has, so she can link the teeth up with them. The Noors are instructed how to get in touch with Cmd. Freedom specifically if Marwa or her friends remember anything else, since they're heading up the case. They'll go and follow up with the individuals you mentioned, as well as with Amir himself. If all is as you said, they'll certainly be in touch to mediate compensation.
"Oh, one more thing," Mirage says as they're wrapping up, "Laith, you wanted a guard on your mom?"
"Oh, uh. Yeah. I don't know if he'll try anything, but-"
"It's no trouble," Freedom agrees. "I'll assign a small team, if your mother agrees to their presence they will be as inobtrusive as possible."
"Thank you," Laith says, grateful.
With that, the Teeth will get up and make formal thanks and farewells to you and yours.
Despite her trepidation going in, Marwa is feeling good when they leave. Every step they take to dealing with this feels like a step in the right direction, and she's got Laith and his mother safe, and she's in her own home, with her family and friends. This debrief wasn't fun, but it was necessary.
Lydia snatches Marwa. just envelops her in hugs and the others can hear Marwa's muffled, "Mom MOM THANKS, I CAN'T BREATHE THOUGH!"
"Habibi, your fathers and I have never been so proud."
"That's my girl." -Baba
"Well done, baby." -Dad
Erik has sat down on the other side of her, squeezing her hand with a smile as Lydia lets her go enough to draw a gasping breath that everyone there knows she doesn't really need.
And then Lydia swivels to face Laith and hugs him too. It cracks his back. "I am so glad you are both free!"
On her other side, Ta'lok regards Mirage.
That's our rogue, right there.
But they're still lacking a next step, and it bothers him. Turning his head, he catches Saeldor's eye, looking for a read on the social/emotional temperature of the room.
The paladin is relaxed, their expression holds an 'all-clear.' The warlock's got his guard down, and themself and Cri are both just relieved that this mess is progressing toward a conclusion that will leave Marwa free and clear.
Saeldor takes the opportunity to open the door to the topic, so it's not always coming from Ta'lok. They stand and address Marwa and Laith as Lydia finally allows the latter to breathe normally again.
"Right on. Proud of both of you for that. So, what comes next?"
Mika's back on alert immediately.
"Gotta get him home, I imagine," he says, indicating Laith, who looks receptive to the idea, but somewhat doubtful.
"Yeah... I don't know though, if it's not too much trouble I'd be obliged of you all's company for a while longer, until Amir is locked up or whatever they do to kidnappers here"
Mika manages to conceal annoyance with himself for not remembering that factor, himself. he was looking for an easy out - escorting Laith home is on the task list, and is a distinctly easier topic to hash out the particulars.
"Fair enough," he concedes.
"If you don't mind, Mrs. Noor," Ta'lok says, "I think it might be time for us to discuss some party-specific business. Mind if we step out for a minute?"
Mika's 'aw fuck me running' face. He gets the feeling he's going to get grilled, with no campfire game to mediate this time.
"Oh," Lydia cocks her head in an expression everyone recognizes from her daughter, "Are you figuring out Mika's odd sleep schedule?"
Then the Djinn's eyes immediately widen, looking at the frozen warlock with an expression of OOPS MY BAD.
For his part, Mika tips his face toward the ceiling with 'FUCK' spelled across it, then buries it in his hands
Cri puts a hand on his shoulder. "You need a way to rest, Mika."
"And it has to be sleep, does it?" He drops his hands, transparently irritated. He didn't want to have this conversation with the party, and now he's having it with not only them, but also all four of Marwa's parents, and Laith. Part of him is sarcastically wondering if Shiv wants to bust in through a window and complete the cast.
"What can I do to convince any of you this is an improvement?"
"Nothing," Marwa states flatly. "...no offense."
"So my vote's not factoring in on this, then?"
"Tell me you don't miss it," she answers, immediately, "Closing your eyes, putting the day's events behind you. Feeling rested when you wake up."
Laith is looking back and forth between you, a little confused, starting to put it together but not sure yet.
"I'm.... guessing you've already tried cutting back on coffee?"
Mika ignores Laith's question for the moment and looks Marwa dead in the eye.
"We both know waking up rested has been a gamble for a long fucking time. At least four of the five of us can sleep through the fucking night now. I miss rest, I haven't missed sleep for a single goddamn second."
"You're mincing words. Cri said you need rest. What you're doing now? Not rest."
"Okay, so I'm a workaholic. I'll find a hobby. Problem solved."
"Wait, man, wait" - Laith, still confused, looks back and forth between them, brow furrowed.
Marwa sighs in frustration and puts her hand over her face.
Laith addresses Mika. "You're getting like, how many hours? Average?"
The party waits, no one willing to spill the beans for him. So he answers bluntly.
"Zero. It's a thing." looking back at Marwa, "a good thing."
Marwa rolls her eyes, and Lydia smacks her on the arm. "That is rude. But I do agree that you should allow us to try to help if we can, Mika."
Behind them, Julius and Alejandro exchange glances.
Laith's taken aback. "And you don't want to sleep? That's right?"
"Correct." Immediate, decisive.
"Bad dreams, or...?"
"Sure. Let's go with that. Close enough."
On the other side of the sectional, Julius speaks.
"You've tried spellwork already, I suppose?"
"Tried a Sleep casting that should've knocked out a fella twice his size," the paladin confirms. "Didn't take. Bounced like I was casting on stone."
Julius considers this, thinking. The concerned frown lines on his forehead are deepening. Wheels turning.
"Have you tried a Command?"
The paladin sobers. This spell is in their vocabulary, but it's not one they prefer to use. Tantamount to short-term domination, they've only ever treated it as a last resort, and then exclusively for de-escalation.
They catch Mika's gaze, who's noticed the wizard joining the conversation and is eyeing them dubiously.
"Are you comfortable trying that, brother?" Saeldor asks, "Up to you."
"What, a command?" He gives a laugh that's more of a single exhale through the nose. "I don't recommend it for your sake, but if you want to try I can't stop you."
Saeldor turns back to the wizard. "Doesn't sound like consent to me. What else you got?"
Julius is regarding Mika with a penetrating frown, chin in hand. He's clocked the particulars of Mika's phrasing, when someone who spends regular time with Saeldor would know they could just say no. There's some repercussion to casting Command that's going unspoken. He'd like to know more before he suggests another spell.
"I'm afraid short of domination magic - which I cannot and will not help you with, extenuating circumstances notwithstanding - those are the only sleep-inducing spells I'm aware of. Have you tried potion?"
Laith has been following this conversation and waiting for a space, but at this point he realizes he's not going to get one, so he raises his hand like he's in school and a few varying-degrees-of-amused eyes turn to him.
"I think Mika should come home with me."
There's a startled beat of silence. It's broken by the named party, who looks confused, but attempts a snark.
"Flattered, but you're a little young for me."
Gentler, Mirage asks him to explain.
Laith, whose storm-grey skin has taken on a reddish cast, gives Mika an annoyed 'you-know-that's-not-what-I-meant' expression, then turns to Mirage.
"Do you know who Eldath is?"
Saeldor perks up. "Folks back home talked about Eldath sometimes. A nature spirit with deific influence over peace, calm, and still water."
Laith smiles, nodding. "She has a shrine in Whitepost - my hometown. A blessed spring. The water grants dreamless sleep."
Mika's staring. Not slack-jawed, but clearly speechless. wheels spinnin' fast.
"It's not normal sleep, either," Laith continues, prompting a frown from the warlock, "People take it for nightmares, stress, pain, that kind of thing. The Green Lady's influence can calm a troubled mind, relax the body. It's a boon of calm and stillness. So what do you say?"
Marwa's got her arms crossed, looking at Mika with one eyebrow up. Ta'lok is looking expectant, like, 'Of course you'll give this a try.'
But Mika's startled incredulity has turned to guardedness.
"What's the catch."
Laith tilts his head slightly. "No catch, man, it's a blessing."
Mika's still thinking, frowning, dubious. "Let's say it works," he says, "I sleep. No dreams. Still a one-off. What'm I gonna do, lug a damn barrel of the stuff around with me?"
Ta'lok clocks the sarcasm but also the potential. He turns to Laith, "would that work?"
"I don't know," Laith says, doubtful, "Nobody's ever tried bottling the stuff before. It's not like you have to stick your head in the spring to drink it, so maybe?"
"Sounds like a worthwhile experiment," Julius remarks.
Mika is dismayed to have what he thought was a rock-solid shutdown taken not just seriously but endorsed.
"In the meantime, the wizard continues, "I think I might have some relevant notes in my library - which you're all welcome to make use of by the way."
Ta'lok nods. "Mighty generous of you, sir."
"Yeah hey, random question," Marwa turns to the other air genasi, "you don't know anything about Wishes, right Laith?"
"About wishes? Whose- oh, like the ones in stories?"
This prompts an immediate "told-you-so" face from the warlock. She ignores him, lets Laith finish.
"I guess I heard a few of those but I'm not much of a storyteller. Why?"
"Just curious. Lot of people think it has djinni origins, didn't know if you'd heard anything."
"I don't really know anything about that, sorry."
"No worries. Okay, cool, so you'll hang out here with us until Amir is taken care of, and then we can take you home. Sound good?"
"Yeah!"
"Regarding replicable solutions," Julius says, "if simple potion hasn't been tested, it could be far more accessible a-" but Mika's already shaking his head no.
"You'd have to hold my nose and pour it down my throat," he says, "or else lace my drinking water and they-" indicating the paladin "-won't allow either of those things so if we're done here...?" he starts to stand, his face a challenge as much as a question.
Mirage stops him, disturbed by the hostility. "Okay. Do you object to a) the way we approached this with you? or b) that we are approaching it at all? Because you gotta explain that stubborn facial expression to me."
"I told you. Not sleeping is a good thing."
"No one is arguing the utility of having someone who does not sleep in the party. You've made that point very clear. What we are struggling to grasp is how it is a good thing for you, Mika Oliviera, a person we know and care about, to not be able to sleep."
"Really? Gods know I woke you up as much as anyone else enough times." His face is as much genuine confusion as it is pride and anger, "how is this something I have to break down for any of you?"
"Okay so it's the dreams? If we found a way to regularly get you dreamless sleep, you'd be down to try?"
"I don't love how many unknowns go along with it," Mika answers, in a tone that suggests this is putting it extremely mildly, "but at first blush it does defeat most of my objections," he looks at Laith, who's nodding along to Mirage's suggestion regarding dreams.
"You've seen it work?"
"Sure, there's not many people in the village who haven't needed help getting forty winks at one time or other."
"So what, it's like the spell? Drink and lights out?"
"N-no, well, maybe? I never heard of someone drinking from the spring in the morning, it makes sense to take a sleeping aid before bed, right?"
"Sure. If it's not instant then what about the interim?"
"I uh, what's-"
"The time between drinking the water and falling asleep. Changes in behaviour? General tiredness or weird levels of relaxed?"
"I don't know? I haven't used it myself-"
"Fine. No dreams, what about sleep talking, walking"
"I don't know, I never heard of it but I guess it's possib-"
"Are people hard to wake? More than usual?"
"I don't know!"
Cri holds out a hand.
"Mika. Enough."
He pauses mid-question, looks back and forth between the druid and the farm-boy, realizing the distress on the latter's face, the anxious static in his stormcloud hair.
"Okay, okay. Sorry." he says, pinching the bridge of his nose, "You're good. It's just... complicated."
Laith nods, but he's still on his back foot.
"Thank you for telling us about the spring, Laith." Cri says, putting a gentle end to the interrogation. "It sounds like a lovely place, magical waters or no."
Ta'lok gets to his feet. "Yes, thank you, Laith. Appreciate you chiming in. My people, let's get some air."
They file out. All of them, even the recalcitrant warlock, understand the futility of argument. Ta'lok leads them to his guest suite, which has more than enough space, and a modicum of privacy. He ushers them all inside, shuts the door behind them.
"Take a breath."
Mika's leaned on a wall, arms folded, drumming fingers on elbow. If he does "take a breath," its not visibly apparent.
Ta'lok wastes no time. "Seems like the Amir business is progressing nicely. I'd like to have a discussion about what you all were thinking about doing after. If you feel like you need more r&r, or if we should start looking for work."
Marwa looks at Mika. Pointedly. So does most of the party.
He's quiet, thinking. Still drumming his fingers but the pissed-off-ness is fading from his face. He's just thinking, working things out.
Saeldor is just letting the moment happen. There's no rush.
"Other than going to this spring so Mika can rest?" Marwa addresses the question to Ta'lok, but keeps her eyes on Mika.
"Right," the boss answers.
Mika's been looking down at his crossed arms, but after a moment, he'll look up and catch Marwa's eye.
"My next move is getting more info. Like usual. If no one has a more actionable lead, you can drop me off somewhere. Near a library, if I get to be picky."
She catches his drift, and turns to Ta'lok.
"Boss we have a big over-arching goal that is probably best supplemented with smaller, actionable jobs."
The boss is listening. She glances at Mika, trying to read his face, then continues.
"We need a Wish. I've asked my parents about it, we're looking into it, but this thing that will not let Mika sleep - we're thinking Mika might be able to Wish it away. Somehow." She looks around at their various curious and surprised faces. "I know it sounds like a fairytale, but I believe my mom when she talks about there being some truth to the stories. I want to find out more."
Ta'lok kind of settles back, thinking. "It's a tall order," he says, contemplative.
"It is. But I think it's worthwhile. And a lot of us are tall or can fly, so."
He laughs, its a booming sound that breaks a good deal of the room's tension.
"What the hell, not the weirdest mission we've taken on." He grins, "I don't know if I'm personally going to be more helpful than your dad, but I can put out some feelers with other merc companies. Maybe someone knows a wizard."
Saeldor's thinking, eyeing the warlock with amusement and caution in equal measure.
"Let me finish before you say no," they say, "A lot of those fairytales about Wishes involve the fey."
Mika drags a hand across his face. Saeldor smiles.
"Let me put in some questions - not requests, questions - with my sylvan friends."
"Do what you want," Mika sighs, "just keep the fuckers away from me."
"If Wish is a spell that changes fate," Cri muses, "then it may be tied in with the stars. I can consult them about it. Maybe I can discover if any magic has changed their courses before."
As the party discusses their leads, Marwa looks at Mika to see how mad he is. He just seems mostly tired at this point, which is standard these days, which makes sense since he WON'T SLEEP.
When there's a space, Mika says "Anyway, I'll have my nose in a book about it. Speaking of, I believe there was a library invitation extended earlier, so..." and he'll stand away from the wall and head toward the door.
Marwa heads out after them as Saeldor asks if he can borrow Ta'lok's balcony for a smoke.
She falls in step with him in the hallway.
"Don't forget - you promised me Chultslang lessons! Pencil those in amidst the other boring research you've got going."
"Oh, sim," he says, glancing aside and slowing his overly-brisk pace, "if you wanted cuss words I have a fair few ready to mind."
"Yeah gimme the good ones."
"It's a trade, remember. Let's see. Merta's pretty flexible. It's like 'fuck' or 'shit.'"
"Yeah I've heard you use that one before."
"It's handy. you can use it on its own or put it with something else. Like, inflexível is 'relentless,' but 'merta inflexível' is closer to fucking unstoppable"
"I like it! Merta."
He manages a little smile. "Your turn."
"Sure. Okay, so here's a pretty easy one. Ahbil. Literally means 'stupid', but it's like the Aurian version of 'asshole'."
"I'm sure I'll get familiar with that one," sardonic.
She smirks.
He tries repeating it, his pronunciation's decent.
"Idioto - or idiota, idioti, depending who you're insulting - also means literally 'stupid' but gets used for a general insult. It's not really strong enough to mean 'asshole' on its own, though. It's more like "jerk." I'd say cabrão if someone was being an unmitigated ass. Well, I guess cabrão is technically closer to motherfucker. Swears are odd to translate."
"Which one can I use for you?"
A side glance, "This morning? At a guess you'd probably want obstinado idioto." He doesn't translate it, it's close enough to common.
"Obstinado idioto. Gotta remember that one."
A half-hearted laugh, "yeah, I mean, it'll probably come in handy if you're going to insist on keeping me around."
"And we do, despite your protests."
"Mulher inflexível"
"Should I be horribly offended, I'm assuming?"
"Not at all."
"Oh? What's that one?"
"I mean I gave you half of it ten seconds ago."
"Right but I don't know the first part!"
"Oh, mulher just means woman. Descriptions come after the noun."
"Oh I see. Cool." She pauses, thinking.
"I'll trade you a really juicy way to insult someone in Aurian if you tell me why you were such an idioto this morning. About the sleep thing."
He looks aside at her, squinting slightly. Curious but cautious.
"It sounds like a deal for me since I did already say. But it's also one of those things I really can't give a ton of detail on. It's a deal if you can accept that you might not get a satisfying answer." He's watching her face carefully.
"Sure. I may ask follow up questions and you're allowed to not answer them."
"Okay then." He takes a breath. "I mean the gist is, y'know," he gestures vaguely at his head, keepin' it neutral in the face, "what we'll charitably call bad dreams. You think waking up to the... yelling was annoying, try the inside view"
I reach out and put my hand on his arm. "Mika, if you'd said that. The dreams are so terrible, that you'd prefer not to sleep - we could work with that! It's nothing to feel shame about."
He shrugs, looking forward, not reacting to her hand. "I tried to. It's whatever, anyway. I guess not loving a nightmare scans less crazy than other stuff. So there's that."
"Okay. Well. It's not you that has to feel any shame, it's this thing. Whatever it is. In fact, if I was face to face with it, I'd say this: 'Yakhsaf allah bih al’ard.'"
"And that means...?"
"It's a good phrase, you should know this one."
"Another one I'm going to hear a bunch?"
"Only if you really piss me off." She smirks, "it's like, 'may god swallow the earth underneath you.'"
He misses a step.
"Damn"
"Yeah, Aurian is pretty poetic."
"I wish it was stabbable," he laughs, "I really do. Wouldn't last five minutes with you around." He's smiling, genuine.
"Well yeah, obviously. But it's apparently not, so we'll have to come up with other ways to tell it to fuck off."
"Yeah, I tried cai fora, which is like basically 'fuck off,' it didn't understand."
"So you have tried to communicate? Do you think it understands hand gestures?" She flips him the middle finger.
He shakes his head, but he's still smiling. "I don't think it understands hands. Or, well, hm." smile fades a bit as he thinks. "Not fully, anyway."
"Hmm. Bummer. Okay, question - am I allowed to ask questions about its intent? I'm just curious about your conversations, or whatever."
The refusal is immediate. "There's no conversation, and no I don't think that's safe in the slightest. Sorry." He glances at her. "I've probably already told you way, way too much over the last few days, to be honest."
"Okay teach me something else fun to say, then. Anything you want."
"Ooh, options." He contemplates, accepting the change of topic readily. "Based on sound? 'suave na nave' is infinitely nicer to say than 'I'm doing well'. In the literal it means like, a ship sailing smoothly. But in terms of amusement, ehh, I dunno. It's not as poetic as Aurian. Most of the fun cuss-outs are pretty vulgar, more about going big than being poetic. Dad never wanted to teach me swears, so I had to ask the guys he works with. You think mercs have foul mouths, talk to a dock worker I tell you."
“I get that. Oh! What’s something nice I can try and say to your Dad the next time we’re in town? Like ‘Hi, good day.’ Kind of stuff.”
"to-!" His eyes widen, the word's cut off before he fully finishes saying it.
Marwa watches his entire face slowly turn red as he stares. His hand comes up in a like, half-fist over his mouth.
“Unless he’d be offended???!”
Headshake in the negative, still speechless.
"N-no, not at all"
“Is my accent that bad? I didn’t think it was terrible…”
"Your accent's fine." he still seems kind of dazed. "Um. 'é bom ver você' is 'it's good to see you.'?"
“é bom ver você.”
This man is melted inside. He is a liquid trying to retain human form.
“…what? You’re looking at me like I’m nuts.”
"Well I'd know, wouldn't I?" the snark's reflexive on that topic, and gets him an eyeroll.
“Whatever. 'é bom ver você.'"
"Maluco, there's another one you can get some regular use out of"
She looks the question at him. He twirls one finger over his ear and whistles two notes.
She frowns. “I will not be using that word to describe you, you are literally being stalked and bullied. I don’t like it when you’re mean to yourself like that.”
He drops his hand, stymied and startled. He frowns at her, trying to get a read.
“The world is maluco," she continues, undaunted, "but I have never thought for one second that you are.”
He swallows, he's having a hard time meeting your eye. "You've got four parents and none of them told you not to tell lies? You're going to stand there and tell me you've never thought I wasn't playing with a full deck? Not when I walked into the goddamn campfire I was so spaced?"
“I’m not lying.”
"Okay, but you're not dumb, either."
“I - thanks?”
“My point is that just because I can’t see what you see doesn’t mean I think you’re crazy. I’d have a pretty narrow view of the world if people who only acted like I do were considered ‘normal’ and everyone else got labelled ‘nuts.’ I am cool with not understanding things. Maybe it’s the thing I am the best at, to be honest. I did not think you were nuts, I don’t think it now, and that’s that!”
He's trying to keep up but I think her acceptance baffles him. He frowns, then he looks aside, thinking hard.
When he speaks again, it's quiet.
"What if I told you it's getting worse. That 'what I see' is the shallow end. That-" he swallows, "That I'd be a true idioto if I thought I could never be a danger to you."
He's not looking her in the eye. He's tensed in an ongoing wince.
“Doesn’t make you crazy. And I accept the risk.”
"Marwa, you've seen what I can do to people."
“Yes. My money is on you, not that thing.”
"What if sometimes there's no difference."
“Does it feel that way? It must, after so long stuck in the same brain.”
"Shittiest roommate ever. Answer the question."
“I’m not sure I understand it, to be honest. I do not think you and this thing are the same, no. You may have goals that align sometimes, but there was a you before this thing, and there will be a you after.”
"What if there's no 'after'??" it's an outburst, he's exasperated, he's scared, he's confused at her steadfastness and afraid to believe it's real.
"What if wishes are fairytale nonsense and nothing else works? What if trying to- to exorcise this thing just makes it mad? I didn't want anyone else sucked down this hole with me but if you insist on jumping you should at least know where the bottom is. And that gravity's against you."
“Some things are worth taking on faith, Mika," Mirage says, calm in the face of the storm. "I believe in you. We can do this. But I think maybe that’s something you have to decide is worth the risk yourself. Nobody can decide it for you.”
He opens his mouth like he's trying to speak, but its just wordless breath, so he closes it, and regards her silently, everything still on his face.
"It's worth my risk," he says, deliberate, "nothing is worth it getting beyond me."
She lets out a frustrated sighn and her head drops.
"But."
She looks up.
He's hesitant, but continues. "I've said that for a long time. It's an old rule."
“And rules suck," she says, quick, "Fuck rules.”
He shrugs with one shoulder, attempting eye contact again, successfully this time.
"I mean, only um idioto refuses to reevaluate a conclusion under new evidence."
“Right. An Ahbil."
Chagrined half-smile, then he seems to realize something. "That's not to say I'm cool with letting this shit get to you or anyone else, I'm not" and that last has an emphasis like it's not just spoken only to her.
“I get it, I do. You’re defending us. And why are you doing that?” Friendly sarcasm in the tone.
He kind of part-turns his head to look at you sidelong - he thinks its a trick question.
“Is it because you care about us?”
Understanding dawns, a chuckling headshake at her 'walking-a-child-to-the-right-word' tone.
“Because if the answer is yes, which I suspect it is, you can understand why I want to bang my head against a wall when you argue about us sticking around to help you figure this shit out.”
He puts his hands up, a scaled-down surrender that takes the wind out of her sails.
"Okay, okay, I get it."
She gives him a half smile but still looks mildly annoyed. “You make ME crazy, Mika. Calling yourself crazy, thinking we’re crazy for wanting to stay with you despite the unknowns. I swear I could just. Ugh!” She wrings her hands in the air, a windstorm whipping around her.
He cringes back a little. "I'd like to remind you at this juncture that I'm not down with being hit over the head as a means of sleeping"
She snort laughs. He grins, and the last of the tension in her frame fades away.
“I wouldn’t dare, my mama would kill me.”
"Marwa, você esta merta inflexível. In the best way." he shakes his head, helpless. "I'm done trying to fend you off, I swear. You're more inevitable than this thing could ever hope to be."
“Thank you! Thank you.”
"You wanna go after this thing - well, if it was anything else I'd wish it luck."
“Cool. Great. awesome." She makes a gesture of welcome as they approach the entrance to her dad's library. "You wanna go look at books?”
Hand over heart like it's skipped a beat.
"Mercy, please. First you're going to go after a Wish, then you wanna learn my language, now you wanna do library things? again?" He walks past her, toward the same shelf he got the previous volumes he had earlier, running a finger along titles. "You're walking a damn dangerous line."
“I like to live dangerously,” she smirks.
He's only half-turned, so she can see him blush. She cackles, which draws his gaze, so she winks, which doesn't help the heat in his skin tone.
He pulls a book affects to be very interested in its content, ducking his head. Marwa chuckles to herself, and then begins perusing for anything on warlocks or pacts. She finds a few volumes about psionics, domination, but unfortunately no "Warlock Pacts and How to Break Them."
"Library's 'Biblioteca'"
She glances up. He's stopped looking at the book and is facing her more calmly.
She nods. ”Maktabah," she says, trading as she turns her gaze back to the shelves.
"And... dançar is dance. You probably could have guessed that one." He pauses, a fond smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he continues. "That'd make you "a menina que dança em bibliotecas"
Her back is to him, which, she thinks to herself, is good, because it means he can't see her biting her lip.
“I do wish more libraries had music like yours does." She turns with a smile, which he returns.
Marwa tries to resume browsing. But her mind is full of music. She doesn't even realize she's humming as she follows her index finger along the shelf, until Mika appears at her elbow, extending a hand.
She looks at it, then his face, which gives away nothing. She blinks, confused.
He hums a bar, continuing her unconscious song, and realization dawns in a warmth of pleasure and shyness on her face.
Oh!
“But of course.”
She hums along as he slips his other hand around her waist and leads her through a few careful turns, mindful of the crowded shelves. She also makes obnoxious trumpet noises.
He laughs, swinging her into a dip and grinning down into her face.
"You're ridiculous." Affectionate.
“You charmer,” she smiles.
He winks.
Just then, she notices a movement at the study entrance.
"Oh, hey dad!"
Mika straightens immediately, drawing her back to a standing position at the same time.
"We were researching," she clarifies. "Well. More like taking a research break."
From the doorway, Julius's faint smile is, for a moment, coloured with sadness. He tucks it away, stepping inside.
“I see. Discovered anything interesting?"
“All libraries should have music.”
Julius chuckles. Mika's still finding his composure, but manages a smile.
"Well don’t let me interrupt. Just here to offer my assistance, if you need.” A glance at the warlock.
"Abrigado, or, oh," looking at Marwa as a thought occurs, "What's..."
“Shukran.”
"Shukran." he gives her a grateful smile. It's been a long time since he tried a new spoken language, it's fun.
Julius waves it off. "Afwan."
“I’m teaching him Aurian, and he’s teaching me some words in Chultslang. Don’t worry, we started with the swears. Jumped right to the fun stuff.”
"Of course. Makes perfect sense," Julius smiles at his daughter, but regards Mika curiously. "<That's not a language one hears everyday.>”
Mika's eyebrows rise briefly. The wizard's accent is off, and there's a hesitation that speaks to a lack of practice, but he's still surprised to hear a fluid sentence.
"<You do in Pai's house.>"
"<You speak Chultslang natively?>"
"<Yours is from study, I take it.>"
"<Like most of the conversant population, yes.>"
"<It's not bad. But your accent's Meztic.>"
Marwa is looking back and forth, trying to read the rapid strings through facial expressions and getting no luck other than that dad is getting into linguist nerd mode and Mika looks a little smug.
"Dad. The research."
“Right." He switches back to common. "I hear you're looking for information about wishes, and warlock pacts. Happy to show you what I have, although my study of both is limited."
Mika also tunes in, focusing on an implication.
"Limited, but not inextant. You've studied warlocks?"
“I have.”
"Any particular flavor?"
“I did some personal research several years ago on great old one pacts. Branched out a bit into Fathomless, but that was the extent.”
"I'm going to guess by the fact that you're standing here in good health that this research wasn't personally motivated." it's a little sardonic, but not irreverent. "I'd be interested to know what you found out."
“A friend once, former party mate of mine. Happy to show you what I got, if you think the information would be useful.”
Mika doesn't move. "What happened to them."
“Don’t know. Woke up one morning and he had left. I tried to find answers, but. That was many years ago.”
Marwa looks horrified.
Mika looks grim. Unsurprised.
"Minhas condolências. If I could see your notes, I'd appreciate it." His tone is calm. Detached, even.
“Of course.”
Julius guides him to a shelf around the corner, where there are a few bound volumes and a stack of journals; the chronicles of his research following Isaac's disappearance. It's all he found out and, like he said, it isn't much.
Mika starts at the beginning.