riddleofthebelow | PFSB: What is time?

PFSB: What is time?

Tom is in the bar. It could be on the date the post was made. It could be a week before. He comes here more often lately after all (but not nearly as much as Ingress, apparently!)

He's reading The Daily Prophet and scoffing a little. That's his usual response to this particular publication.

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He accepts, recognizing the kindness offered, and appreciating it. Lan Wangji takes a polite sip and then settles his fingers around the cup on the table and tries to think what else to say.

(Something complicated flickers in his eyes when Tom mentions marks left, but he does not speak of that, not yet.)

"Wei Ying is good," he concludes, finally. "He is a friend to Herald Ingress, and to others here. He will give of himself to help where it is needed, even unasked. I trust him with everything I am, everything I have. You need have no concerns, Tom-qianbei."

"If you have questions. About what I have said. I will answer them."

He will cut himself open with the words and bleed, if doing so will spare Wei Ying pain.

“I do not,” he says, his voice gentle. “And I never had concerns. I merely sought confirmation of what I felt must be true, because I didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. Wei Wuxian is a good man. It shines through him. I wouldn’t have opened my home to him had I not known that already in my heart.”

The relief is dizzying.

He nods, and takes a sip of tea.

"I've wrung enough out of you, I feel," he says after another moment of silence unfurls between them. It's not an uncomfortable silence, at least not for Tom.

"Please know that even if his story had been different, more aligned to mine, I still would have offered all the aid and succor I could give. It's part of how I continue to make amends."

"I understand," he assures him. "Rest assured."

Both his tone and his expression harden as though carved from jade in truth, however, as he adds,

"Not everyone here has been so gracious."

"Oh? Have you had difficulties? I know... how that can be."

Lan Wangji looks at him carefully.

"Do you know a woman named Moiraine?"

Ah. Ahhhhhh.

"Yes. Yes, I do," he sighs, "and I count her as both a friend and an ally, despite a most inauspicious initial meeting many years ago. What's happened?"

He does not answer, at first, but instead asks,

"Inauspicious meeting?"

"There was a terrible misunderstanding. We were both newly arrived; I had only just begun walking my new path. Dark magic clung to me, ever ready for me to access and use it again. I was told, incorrectly, that she wished to sever me from my magical source, to neutralize any danger I represented as a Dark Lord similar to the one she pledged her life to fight. When we met, there was something of a stand off, I fear, and our magical forces collided, and it was not- it did not go well for me. I lost consciousness, overwhelmed, and my friends, my wife, nearly went after her. But she was allowed to aid me, and she did, and when I was better, we began talking more, and... Well. Truly, if it weren't for Moiraine, I doubt very much I'd be the person I am today."

This does not reassure him at all. His fingers tighten around the tea cup.

"She spoke of a shadow."

"Yes. She sensed it on me, as well. She's devoted to her fight against the evil that plagues her world. In all its forms, through all its connections - worlds can be joined in ways we don't know about."

He takes a sip of tea.

"I could speak to her, if she's been... insistent? It may be that, like me, she doesn't understand the entire truth, and we- well. Some who come here ignore the rules, and they tend to be people with an affiliation to the Dark Arts of their worlds. Many of us have been intentional in protecting Milliways and its patrons."

Intentional, zealous, you pick. But it's true, and Tom can't say he's against the warriors of the light protecting Milliways.

He shakes his head.

"I do not think she knows. Or cares. She needs help, and is not inclined to accept a refusal."

"Hmm." He frowns. On one hand, the not accepting a refusal sounds very much like Moiraine. Oh the other, not knowing or caring definitely does not sound like her at all.

"I have to admit, Lan Wangji, I don't know what to think of that."

"Desperate people do desperate things."

Desperate? Moiraine? She’s the least desperate person he’s ever known and he’s been in desperate situations with her more than once.

“Desperate about what? Do you know?”

"She wishes aid with necromancy," Lan Wangji informs him.

"Due to trouble with a pool. In Twin Peaks."

“Ah, I see.”

Temple and Arch, it must be bad if she’s acting in a desperate manner.

“I’ll inquire. We spoke for the first time in a long time recently.”

Nothing like that came up. But that doesn’t surprise Tom; Moiraine keeps her information to herself until she’s ready.

He nods. After a moment's deliberation, he adds,

"We -- Wei Ying and I -- have agreed to help. To at least examine the problem."

“That’s- kind of you, especially since you dislike and mistrust her.”

“We are cultivators.”

It seems to say what is needed, to him.

“And cultivators... assist others with problems such as this one?”

“Yes.”

Simply said.

“Or should. Those who are not cultivators do not have the means to face angry ghosts, or monsters, or demons, or to remove curses, or other such things.”

That makes sense. He’s certainly assisted others for no ulterior motive.

Or. Well. Mostly none. It’s always wise to have someone owe you a favor for helping them out. But many times he’s helped for no specific reason.

“I understand. I’m happy to consult if you need another magic user.”

Or someone to run interference...

He nods to him.

"Your offer is gracious, as you are. I accept. Thank you."

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riddleofthebelow - 2020-11-01 04:29 (UTC) - Expand

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