Harrowheart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
westfallcorndog) wrote2017-05-26 10:08 am
westfallcorndog) wrote2017-05-26 10:08 am
Missing – For Adia
Days have passed since Khan invaded the Nexus, leaving havoc and destruction in his wake and abetting some of the most unsavory figures of the Nexus to cause their own chaos in the hours that the anti-violence field was down. Harrowheart had missed most of the initial efforts to save survivors after the final confrontation – it was difficult enough for him to return to his own world and save himself after the destruction of one of his runeblades. In the time he'd been gone they had to be reforged and his body somewhat mended from the physical and magical wounds he'd sustained. Strips of flesh remained burned away from his face where Khan's plasma had melted anything it touched, and he was still forced to wear an eyepatch until his eye regenerated.
All that mattered was that he was well enough, and with an ominous new runeblade slung over his back, he returned to the Nexus to check on the people he cared about. His family, of course, was safe in Ixis Naugus' impenetrable tower, and he suspected Isidor and Viatorus were just fine – they were magically talented, and if worse came to worst they could have escaped back to Earth... But some couldn't have been so lucky.
His first stop is Steve's apartment. He knows where to find the key and doesn't bother knocking. If he comes in and finds Steve nakedly lounging, at least it means he's safe. What he doesn't expect is to find... Nothing at all. No Steve. He sniffs the air, but isn't sure what he was expecting to find. Of course it smells of him. Is it a distant smell, though? He can't quite tell.
He steps hesitantly inside, and the sound of his plate armor shifting seems so loud in the utter silence. The strange little animals Steve lives with aren't around, either...
"Is anyone home?" he asks, feeling stupid even as he does. It's not like anyone could be hiding out of view in this apartment. "Steve?" Light, what were the little beasts' names?... "Eth...el? Bucky? Sarah?"
It's empty. Totally empty. But that doesn't mean anything, right? Maybe they're out. They're all out helping people who need help. Of course that's the situation. Steve wouldn't sit around if he knew people were in need, and his little creatures were intelligent enough to go with him.
At a loss for what direction to take, Harrowheart does what he's spent the last few months in Acherus perfecting: Standing watch. With the door to the apartment still open he positions himself in the center of the room and stands stark still, his lone, glowing eye unblinking as it watches the doorway. It's only out of habit that he draws his weapon and stands it up, the blade's tip on the floor and his palms resting on the hilt as he waits.
All that mattered was that he was well enough, and with an ominous new runeblade slung over his back, he returned to the Nexus to check on the people he cared about. His family, of course, was safe in Ixis Naugus' impenetrable tower, and he suspected Isidor and Viatorus were just fine – they were magically talented, and if worse came to worst they could have escaped back to Earth... But some couldn't have been so lucky.
His first stop is Steve's apartment. He knows where to find the key and doesn't bother knocking. If he comes in and finds Steve nakedly lounging, at least it means he's safe. What he doesn't expect is to find... Nothing at all. No Steve. He sniffs the air, but isn't sure what he was expecting to find. Of course it smells of him. Is it a distant smell, though? He can't quite tell.
He steps hesitantly inside, and the sound of his plate armor shifting seems so loud in the utter silence. The strange little animals Steve lives with aren't around, either...
"Is anyone home?" he asks, feeling stupid even as he does. It's not like anyone could be hiding out of view in this apartment. "Steve?" Light, what were the little beasts' names?... "Eth...el? Bucky? Sarah?"
It's empty. Totally empty. But that doesn't mean anything, right? Maybe they're out. They're all out helping people who need help. Of course that's the situation. Steve wouldn't sit around if he knew people were in need, and his little creatures were intelligent enough to go with him.
At a loss for what direction to take, Harrowheart does what he's spent the last few months in Acherus perfecting: Standing watch. With the door to the apartment still open he positions himself in the center of the room and stands stark still, his lone, glowing eye unblinking as it watches the doorway. It's only out of habit that he draws his weapon and stands it up, the blade's tip on the floor and his palms resting on the hilt as he waits.
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It's a relief that he isn't offended by her lack of religion. And, as he describes his own philosophy, it occurs to her that having gods you can see and hear doesn't actually make it easier to put your faith in them. But as chatty as the topic makes him, it only draws her into a long, pensive silence. "You have a point," she says finally. "But all the same, I'd rather not believe in them at all. Because the alternative is that they'd rather watch the human race go extinct than answer any of our prayers."
And then she blushes and adds hurriedly, "Not that, um... other people can believe what they want. I'd never judge someone for putting their faith in a higher power. Your brother can tell me all about the holy light... it sounds nice, actually. I could get behind the concept of something like that."
His joke startles a giggle out of her. "She married Hades. He's not dead, but he's in charge of the Underworld." Isis, Isis, where has she heard that name before... "Do you mean Isidor? Her patron goddess is Isis. Some people on her Earth worship a religion similar to mine. Her brother -- oh!" She stops in her tracks a moment, staring up at Harrowheart with a bright smile. "That's who you were talking about at the Halloween party. Viatorus!"
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When she brings up the very good point about the nature of gods and extinction he nods slowly in full comprehension. It's the sort of notion he's surely come across on his world, and one which he can sympathize with.
Her giggle brings him a little laughter too, and then he's swiftly back to listening to her as she tells him actual facts about her religion. And then... Isidor. Just hearing her name makes his expression melt into a stupid, wonderful smile. Isidor herself might be trained in the art of couching her emotions behind a schooled eyebrow arch, but he's not quite so skilled.
Fortunately Adia provides him a quick out with the mention of Viatorus and the Halloween party, which gets wide eyes from him. Wait, wait, what was it he said? It was good, right? The lights in his eyes dart all over Adia's face as he tries to remember. It's unlikely he does if his feigned laugh is any indication. "Oh yeah! Viatorus, he's a real good kid, ain't he? He's my best pal, honestly, next to–" He glances at Bucky, then back to Adia. Some names might be left unsaid.
"You know him? And... Isidor too?... Y'all're like gal pals or somethin', maybe?..."
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She's glad that he gets it. And she's certainly open to more questions about her religion, but... wow, what is up with that face he's making? All because she mentioned Isidor? Oh! Does he have a crush on her? That's so sweet!
Wisely, she keeps this discovery to herself. The conversation has already shifted to Viatorus, and she's pleased to hear that they are such good friends. She gives Harrowheart a bittersweet smile at the non-mention of Steve.
"What? Oh... ah, not really, we've only met once. I'm closer to Viatorus, to be honest. We have more in common. We've got plans to set up a research center in the Nexus for both science and magic." She laughs softly, a fond smile on her face. "He's a good kid, yeah. Oh, but I like Isidor a lot, too! I can't believe she's the same age as me, she's so mature and put-together..." She may not be crushing on either of the Durants, but she has a lot of obvious affection for both of them.
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"I really respect that about her," he says. "But you know, you always struck me as kinda mature yourself? Even though half the time we spent together I was drunk or you were cryin'. Maybe it's 'cause you don't make crazy decisions like young people do, and you're real aware of everyone else's feelings." He shrugs one shoulder and with another small laugh says, "I was the same age as the both of you when I died, and I always felt like an idiot kid outta my league. Maybe it's just part of bein' that age."
But, wait... A research center? Harrowheart's eyebrows lower as he thinks this belated realization through. Magic... And science? But Adia doesn't do magic, he thinks, which means...
He looks her up and down with a newfound curiosity. "Adia, are you some kinda scientist or somethin'? Like an engineer? Is that why they got you on that ship?"
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Harrowheart's compliment puts a stop to her babbling, thankfully, and she ducks her head and smiles bashfully in response. "That's kind of you to say. I always had my schooling or career to focus on, that usually kept me out of trouble." How strange that he can talk about the day he died so casually, but it doesn't detract from the point he makes, which she finds herself nodding along to once he's done talking. "On our world, at least, this was supposed to be the years that I discovered myself... what I wanted out of life, who I wanted to be with." She sighs and adjusts the statue in her arms. "But then the war happened, and... I don't know, ever since I feel like it's been one crisis after another. I can barely stop to breathe, let alone plan for the future..."
Although she has been planning that research center with Viatorus, so perhaps she is not giving herself enough credit. She smiles brightly and nods, pleased with her friend's deduction skills. "I am a scientist. A microbiologist. My ship's a research vessel, we study infectious diseases."
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Honestly it's better that Adia goes on to have her moment of shyness, which is just way too endearing. Things sober quickly when she mentions the change of course of her life, and he nods along sympathetically. He rests a hand on her shoulder and asks, "How long has your war been goin' on?"
Then Adia goes and says a word Harrowheart doesn't recognize and he instinctively repeats it in a low whisper. Microbiologist... "Biology is the study of life, I know that one." He's going to riddle this out aloud and he's taking Adia along for the ride on the train of thought. "Micro is... Small? So... Oh! I get it! A microbiologist studies short lives, and they're short because when you got a disease, you die!" For a man who's got it all wrong Harrowheart looks especially pleased with himself for that one. "Call me a microbiologist, too, then! Death knights are masters of conjurin' magical diseases."
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"Two years," she replies, before frowning at her own answer. "Not very long compared to other wars, but it feels like it's been a lifetime... especially all that time spent under Occupation on New Caprica." She shivers, despite the pleasant weather. "I'm so glad we're back on our ships again."
She nods and smiles encouragingly while he works out what she studies for a living... and then blinks and stares at him when he ends up completely off-the-mark. He's so proud of himself, too, she almost doesn't want to tell him that he's wrong, but the expression on her face likely gives that away before she says anything. "Um." She clears her throat. "Micro actually refers to microorganisms or how the body works on a cellular level." She'll give him a moment to let that sink in. "Magical diseases? Like what?"
Fun Fact: On Azeroth, cells are called 'pixels'
He'll let her think that over while he considers the fact that he was not only slightly wrong, but super wrong about what she studies. "Micro... Organisms? Like whole creatures that're..." He idly rubs at one of his sideburns while he works through this. "I know cells are what our body's supposed to be made out of, but there's critters that small too? That... Don't make any sense, but... You're the expert, which means you know best, huh?" Dubious though he might be, he's willing to believe. After all, it's not a stretch for him to accept that there's a wealth of knowledge out there he might never understand.
"Guess it's kinda like gods," he muses. "I can't see 'em, but I'll put my faith in you and believe in 'em." He elbows Adia playfully, careful not to be too strong and knock the statue out of her arms.
"And, y'know, magical diseases like... Frost fever?" He looks at Adia to gauge her familiarity, but explains it regardless. "Makes a person colder and colder until they die. Crypt fever, which makes people crave flesh so they eat each other 'til they die." His eyes shift left to right as he tries to remember others. "Ebon plague, which makes a person's blood clot up and their skin turns all black – 'til they die, of course. Uhhh... Oh! Blood plague! Makes a person welt up in big ol' blood boils 'til they pop and give all their diseases to everyone else." He waves a hand and shrugs one shoulder. "There's probably more, but we don't always give 'em names."
He raises his eyebrows and tips his head when a realization comes to him. "So you and the folks on your ship... You're sorta like the Royal Apothecary Society, huh? You're brewin' plagues and craftin' diseases to kill the clone-bots who're after y'all, right? On my world there's rules and consequences for armies doin' that, but in your case... Shoot, it's probably a smart idea. Have you tried puttin' diseases in their food and water? That's how the Scourge killed about half the humans on my world. Maybe it'll help set y'all free?"
And diseases are caused by bad code?
The fact that he knows what cells are surprises her, considering how little he knows of the subject otherwise. "That's right. The human body -- all living things, actually -- are made up of cells. But there are some living things that are only one cell, like bacteria and viruses. Some of those cause disease, but some help us, too. I mostly study the former." His elbow nudge throws off her balance for a moment, but she laughs it off, even as Bucky circles a little lower to make sure she's okay. "The wonderful thing about science is that you don't have to take my word for it. I tell you what, I'm trying to get ahold of a microscope in the Nexus. When I do, you'll be able to see for yourself some microorganisms. It's really cool."
She listens to Harrowheart's list of diseases with a fascinated sort of revulsion. They sound far worse than anything the colonies ever experienced. Not even a hemorrhagic fever ends in exploding blood boils. But there is curiosity in her expression, too, as she begins to wonder how they work on a physiological level. "What causes these diseases? Do you cast a spell, or is it like a toxin?"
Once again, Harrowheart is very wrong about what she does, but instead of polite confusion, she stops in her tracks and stares at him, her expression somewhere between outrage and disgust. "What? No! I wouldn't-- the people on my ship study how to cure diseases, not make them worse!"
And then, just as quickly, she looks away, embarrassed by her outburst. "Sorry," she says, catching her breath before meeting his gaze again. "I forgot... it's different on your world, sorry. But we have those same rules, too, about biological warfare. It's... if we used that on the Cylons, we'd be the very thing they hate us for being." She grips the statue in her arms a little tighter. "And even if we did, I would never work on a project like that."
Diseases are what we call "the playerbase."
Listening to Adia talk about cells and microorganisms brings him a little smile and keeps the conversation lighter, fortunately. He listens quietly with large, bright eyes – well, eye in his current state – and his smile broadens a little more with the phrase 'the wonderful thing about science is...'
"You sound so much like Doctor Photovolt, my brother's girlfriend – except you absolutely cannot call her that in front of my folks, 'cause Mom and Dad don't wanna think about their son bein' in an interracial relationship. Anyways, she's a scientist, too. She works with electricity and power. Power that comes from the sun. She talks just like you, always actin' all..." He clears his throat before he attempts a falsetto voice, "You'd believe me if you could see, but I don't have the tools to show you!" When he's through he laughs at his own impersonation of her.
But they're quickly back to serious subjects, and one which Adia clearly has some passionate opinions on. He raises his eyebrows and leans away slightly, but is neither offended by nor guilty for the sudden burst of emotions. A few seconds and a few steps pass before he quietly asks, "Does it matter if you are the thing they hate you for, so long as you win? I mean, what's more important... That humanity lives, or that the folks who wanna kill y'all maybe feel a little remorse about it in a few hundred years 'cause you were such good sports? It'd be one thing if they were peaceful, but... When it's life or death, there ain't no choice but to play to win."
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She blinks and nods hurriedly before Harrowheart even finishes telling her about Doctor Photovolt, not wanting to ruffle any family feathers. The impression gets an awkward smile out of her, before she looks up at him hopefully. "Do you think she'll be around tonight? I'd love to talk to her about her research." It doesn't matter that it's not in Adia's field. There is a serious dearth of scientists in the Nexus, and as much as she doesn't mind explaining over and over what she does for a living, it'd be great to have a professional conversation for a change.
The outrage is gone, softening to a lingering consternation as she resumes walking alongside him. This is the same man who wanted her and Caspar to live happily ever after. Why would he blithely suggest that she essentially infect him and his kind with the plague? The dichotomy makes more sense when he speaks to her again, and she listens silently before formulating a response.
"You were right about Caspar," she finally remarks, sidestepping his questions. "He went against his model's programming to save me from being tortured. And Julia... she's another Cylon, she was in my lab. When Galactica came back to rescue us from New Caprica, a Four tried to stop me and she killed him. Which... they don't do that. Cylons don't kill other Cylons." She starts to gesture with a hand, but stops herself, not wanting to lose her grip on the statue. "And I know that those are just anecdotes, that the Cylons still hate us... but maybe... maybe we can win this war without having to do to them what they're trying to do to us."
And then, lest Harrowheart think that she's completely naive, she smiles wryly and adds, "Besides, we'd probably screw it up and infect ourselves instead. That's what happened with our defense system... the Cylons infiltrated it and turned it on us."
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"So they're programmed," he says, thinking out loud. Is that new information? Whether it is or isn't he's considering it in a new light. The Cylons are programmed to behave a particular way... Except some of them don't? His eyelid and brows are all aflutter with his thoughts.
"But some of them... They got free will? They can save you, like Julia, or... They can love. Like Caspar."
It's strangely overwhelming for being such a simple notion. People have their own opinions, goals, dreams, decisions... Even the enemy. He folds his arms in front of his chest and walks along their path, unspeaking for quite some time. He hardly takes his eyes off the road, only looking at Adia when he dodges people to be sure she isn't lost in any crowds.
Eventually he does turn to her, though, and in as much a question as a statement says, "They're their own people?"
He's not sure he expected that. He's not sure what he expected, honestly. The last time they spoke she called them robots, and robots generally don't have their own wishes and dreams, and they certainly don't love – not in his experience, anyway. Yet Caspar did. He'd been so caught up in trying to get her to fall back in love with a man he thought he identified with that he hadn't really considered the deeper implications of it all.
"I guess I figured they were like the Scourge. Which... Won't make any sense to you, maybe. But the Scourge, we only thought what the Lich King made us think. We were different, sometimes, but... We were all the same, too? We were..." His nostrils flare and he quickly motions to Adia. "Cells! And the Scourge was our body. Last time we talked you told me that the Cylons are robots, and their..." He gestures vaguely to his head and guesses, "Consciousness? Went into some kinda... Cloud, maybe? And they came back to life as the same person. Like demons in the Legion, they got immortal souls. And maybe I figured they were just like demons, who all obey the Legion. They only got one goal, and that's killin' everything. Demons don't fight other demons unless someone forces 'em to, just like Scourge don't fight Scourge. Except..."
He shifts his mouth from side to side and goes back to thinking. Normally he'd ramble off whatever thoughts crossed his mind, but this feels like a situation that deserves some honest thought.
"Except Ebon Blade knights, like me, who got our free will. So we're Scourge, but we're not. We're undead like the Scourge, but we're all our own people through and through. We're somethin' else. So... Maybe... Julia and Caspar are like Knights of the Ebon Blade. They're Cylons, but they're not Cylons? Which means there's probably more Not-Cylons like them out there."
He points a finger at her then and says eagerly, "So you can form an alliance with 'em! An Ashen Verdict! And then y'all can kill the rest of the Cylons together!"
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But she is reacting to his words, if he happens to notice. There's a soft blush when he mentions Caspar, an encouraging smile when he makes his biological analogy to the Scourge, and a thoughtful frown when she realizes how oddly appropriate that analogy is.
When he reaches his triumphant conclusion, she smiles at him in relief and appreciation, because this time he's actually gotten it right. "For decades, we thought of Cylons as this monolithic entity. Many different minds, but only one will. Even in their biological form, we made the same mistake, that each one is an individual, but they're all in agreement with every decision. And even if they don't agree, once they vote on something, they go through with it without argument... and they did little to dissuade us of that assumption, by the way. I think they wanted us to see them as this superior race that doesn't suffer from petty squabbles like humans do. But... Caspar still cared enough about me to save me. And Julia never thought she was human, never knew me from before... who's to say that there aren't more Cylons like them?"
She keeps her look of optimism for a few more steps until Harrowheart's suggestion sinks in. Rather than give her more hope, she smiles somewhat sadly and turns her attention back to the road. "That's a nice thought, but... not so soon after the Occupation. I don't think anyone's ready to trust any Cylons for a long while." She thinks briefly of Four grabbing her roughly by the hair and fails to suppress another shiver. "And some of them still hate us very much.... no, we need to find Earth first. It'll give us a little breathing room and put us in a position to negotiate a real truce."
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"Aren't you worried that the Cylons'll follow you to Earth? What's gonna be the big difference when they get there? You think the Earth humans can hold 'em off?"
As much as he'd like to end it there, his curiosity gets the better of him and he can't help but ask, "And Julia... She knew she was a Cylon, but she was workin' with you? With your human scientists? On your side, or?... I mean... Was she a colleague pursuin' your cause, or were you more like her, uh..." He clears his throat, and for lack of more eloquent phrasing asks, "Human slave?"
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She shakes her head in response to his hesitantly-worded question. "She wasn't on my side, but I wasn't her slave, either. When the Cylons found us on New Caprica, they decided to occupy us instead of destroying outright. They brought in a Four to oversee our research. We was supposed to train Julia... I was the only one who would say more than two words to her, so she ended up spending the most time with me."
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Speaking of good thoughts: Human and Cylon relations. The subject of Julia is still interesting to him, though in a detached sort of way. He's not the one who had to labor under a Cylon's watchful eye.
"I don't think I coulda been in your position," is the first thing he thinks to say. "Someone from a race I don't like forcin' me to work with 'em? For 'em? Teach 'em things?" The disgust is palpable in his voice. If he had even less class than he does he'd probably spit at the thought of it all. "Why'd you put up with it? I mean, I get it if you couldn't escape, but... What made you wanna be nice to her in the first place?"
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His second question stings, although she tries not to show it. He can't know how closely his reaction mirrors most of the humans in her Fleet. No one has accused her of being a Cylon sympathizer to her face, but she's sure that's what some other people think of her. First a Cylon ex-boyfriend, and then a Cylon co-worker...
"No one would talk to her," she says quietly, her gaze dropping. "At first I... I was worried she would get mad. Cylons only need the tiniest of excuses to inflict violence on humans... and, um, one of her model -- they're called Sixes -- she had been tortured and abused aboard the Pegasus, another of our battlestars. For... days, I think. Just brutalized." She shivers and clutches the statue a little tighter. "Whenever I looked at her, all I could think of was her sister, and... I don't know. I figured I could listen to her babble about her God if it meant that it kept everyone in the lab safe."
She felt sorry for her, is what she wants to say, but can't. What does a Cylon need of a human's pity? "I know it's not what other people would have done, and it's not like being nice to everybody won any wars, but... she did save my life. I don't think she would have done that if I'd ignored her like everybody else."
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"What happened to her?" he finally things to ask. "Julia. You said you're on your ship again, right? Not on that occupied world? So did you take Julia with you, or?..."
He continually flits his attention between Adia and the Nexus ahead of him as he awaits her answer. Not terribly far in the distance is the sight of Naugus' tower. They're getting close, and it won't be long before they're there.
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"I don't know," she admits. "After she knocked out Four, she told me to run. That's the last I saw of her... I hope she's okay. Four would have resurrected by now, probably." Which makes her wonder, how do Cylons punish other Cylons for their crimes? The death penalty is pointless if you can resurrect...
Her gaze instinctively travels up the tower looming before them. "Is that where we're headed?" She's never noticed it before, but when the Nexus skyline is full of all sorts of strange buildings, a wizard's tower doesn't stand out quite as much.
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He nods when she asks about the tower. "That's Ixis Naugus' place. He ain't been out in a long time. Family barely sees him, except when they bring him food or he comes down for supplies. I don't know what he's up to, but he's an archmage, so I figure he's cookin' up somethin' big."
Still, there's a little bit of silence to fill before they're there, and something has been scratching at his mind since Adia mentioned it. "What's the Cylon god like? What do robot clones believe in?"
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She looks ahead to Sarah, then up at Bucky, making sure they're both headed in the right direction. Ethel is still plodding along beside her. "An archmage," she repeats thoughtfully. Guess it wouldn't make much sense for someone non-magical to live in a tower like that. "He's your friend? Is that why he let your family move onto his property?"
The question doesn't surprise her, considering how much they've talked about Cylons and gods. She frowns a little, trying to remember what Julia told her. "They only believe in one god. He's not a -- an even bigger robot or A.I., so far as I can tell. He's big on forgiveness, but you have to prove yourself worthy of it." Her frown grows. "Cylons have passed his test, but humans apparently have not. For what it's worth, I haven't seen any evidence for him, either."
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"Is Naugus my friend?" he repeats. He's... Honestly not sure. His expression twists up into a thoughtful confusion and there comes another shrug. "I thought he was? But... Y'know, I'm pretty sure he don't think of people in terms like 'friends.' There's useful and there's not-useful. I... I mean, I ain't tryin' to sound ungrateful or nothin', but when I showed up at his castle with my family all bleedin' and scared from leavin' our home when the demons came, he was kinda..."
His mouth shifts side to side as he debates how to explain this. "He kinda didn't give a damn? Like he didn't understand. Like it didn't matter to him. Before that I thought he was my friend. Now... I guess I know how he works a little better. And I guess it don't bother me too bad anymore, 'cause he did give my whole family a home, after all. He pays for them to eat, pays for them to have clothes, doesn't ask for rent. He didn't even ask that they work on his land or clean his castle, but they do, 'cause what else would they do with their days? It's a lot like bein' back home, I guess."
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She stays silent during Harrowheart's explanation, her gaze divided between him and the tower. "But he didn't turn them away... does he think that they're useful for something?" She's not used to people like that, who don't even pretend to buy into the concept of friendship. "What sort of magic does he do? Do you know?"
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"I think he thinks I'm useful," Harrow says, nodding toward the tower. "Long as Naugus protects my family, I owe him one. Whatever he wants, I'll do it. Sounds like a hard bargain, but I don't think there's anyplace in the universe they could be safer than in his tower." He gestures to it, to the strange crystals it's made from, and says, "He conjures crystals that can't be broken except by him. No one can get into his castle unless he wants 'em in. It ain't gonna burn down, or blow over in the wind... Nobody like that Khan guy can hurt my folks if the anti-violence field goes down... It's worth it. I'll do whatever Naugus wants so long as they can stay there."
And then to her last question he laughs. "He's an archmage! Actually, he's an 'Ixis,' which is a title, not his first name. Far as I can tell it means the same as an archmage, anyway. He's good at all sorts of magic. All the elements, at least. You don't get to be an archmage bein' a one-trick pony."
There's a split rail fence made mostly of new wood surrounding the property now, and even the beginnings of a gate lying just inside, waiting for a few final boards to be added before it's finished. And the person who's working on it arrives in short order. He's a man who looks to be in his mid-to-late forties with a sketchy hairline, a stubbly beard, a thick-rimmed pair of glasses, and facial features that are strikingly similar to Harrowheart's. He squints at the two when he's a few yards off. Of course he recognizes his dumb brother, who waves like an idiot, but that woman? That's not Isidor, is it? Shit, he hopes not...
Following close behind him are... The pokémon! A short, squat snover is waddling behind with her arms raised to hold up a few planks for the gate. A fuzzy little swinub is following close behind, grunting and huffing as it struggles to keep up. Its mouth is concealed by its long hair, but sticking out from the tip of its snout are the ends of a few iron nails it's carrying. Swinub has to be a helper somehow, too!
Unfortunately for Lawrence, both pokémon drop their cargo the split second they see... Other pokémon! Planks and nails go flying and Lawrence mumbles some colorful language under his breath as he scrambles to find the nails in the grass before they're lost for good. Snover and swinub make a break for it, both overfed little beasts waddling at top speed to meet Adia's pokémon. All humans will have to wait for their greets!
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She hopes so, anyway. As Harrowheart describes his relationship with Naugus, she wonders if Julia has the same expectations. She saved Adia's life, will she expect something in return? She hopes not... that's not how friendships are supposed to work. Not that she thinks less of Harrowheart for the bargain he's made. He's keeping his family safe... a lot of family safe, if the size of the property before them is any indication.
His explanation of Naugus's powers gets the faintest of nods as she catches sight of the man working on the gate. He must be related to Harrowheart. An older brother, maybe? Oh, and Harrowheart is waving at him, should she wave too? She's about to, but then --
A furry piggie! And a little snowy tree thing! They are so cute. And look, they're helping! It takes all of Adia's willpower to not clasp her hands in front of her and squeal like a small child. Which is good, because then she'd drop the Mary statue and go to Steve's god's equivalent of Tartarus for a thousand years, or whatever happens when you destroy a Catholic relic.
Steve's pokémon are far less subdued, racing to meet their distant relations, Sarah leading the way with a loud, cheerful bark. Ethel plods along as fast as she can, adding to the noise with her oddly metallic call. And Bucky, who had been lazily gliding in circles most of the way, swoops down and chirps in greeting, with none of the wariness he saves for humans.
If any of them had arms, they'd probably give out hugs. Instead, there is friendly sniffing and playful tail wagging. Hello, new friends!
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