Characters present: Cinder, Wizard
Date: 2/12/24
Season: 3

[The morning after the Festival, Cinder wakes up in a cot in the Sheriff’s Office. They can smell something delicious cooking, and stumble over to the kitchen where the Wizard cooks pancakes and bacon on a griddle stovetop.]

[16:55:26] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Morning! How'd you sleep?

[16:55:49] <✦[rp] cinder> Morning! It was... Alright. Took me a little to get to sleep after everything

[16:56:01] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm sure, are you feeling better today?

[16:56:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I know my nerves are still settling...

[16:56:15] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, I think so. Thanks again for letting me stay over

[16:56:25] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Of course! I've got the room

[16:56:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm making some breakfast, do pancakes and bacon sound good to you?

[16:56:48] <✦[rp] cinder> That sounds great!!

[Cinder folds her arms over her chests, she looks at the Wizard with concern.]

[16:56:40] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, are you okay? You were pretty on the forefront of that whole thing

[The Wizard sighs.]

[16:56:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yeah, I'm alright

[16:57:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I need to talk to Joco about Ion, though

[16:57:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm a little worried about all of that

[16:57:12] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, they seemed to really have it out for you

[16:57:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They did, at least, I think based on our conversation that might've been enough for them?

[16:57:40] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Our proverbial "beef" is squashed but-

[16:57:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They mentioned something about the sculk having plans for them-

[Cinder chuckles.]

[16:58:03] <✦[rp] cinder> proverbial beef,,, what a phrase

[The Wizard smiles.]

[16:57:46] <✦[rp] cinder> Joco is... very empathetic. I'm not sure I would have been down to give Ion a hug after all that

[16:57:59] <✦[rp] The Wizard> That's very true indeed

[16:58:17] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Joco has a level of kindness and empathy that rivals even the greatest Saints

[16:58:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They have a patience I couldn't dream of having, and I'm grateful for that

[16:58:59] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, it's good to have someone like that watching our backs. I owe them a lot

[16:59:19] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I can echo that sentiment

[16:59:15] <✦[rp] cinder> though hey, we'd be lost without your level headedness too

[The Wizard laughs again.]

[16:59:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh you give me too much credit

[16:59:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I just take the logical path– that's easy

[16:59:51] <✦[rp] cinder> Easier said than done

[17:00:01] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I suppose that is true

[The Wizard flips a pancake on the griddle.]

[17:00:13] <✦[rp] cinder> I'm thankful to know someone so smart. Especially what with... The advice I need.

[The Wizard nods gently, looking down at the fat bubbling on the corners of the griddle.]

[17:00:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Right, right

[17:00:34] <✦[rp] cinder> I mean if anyone would know anything, it would be you. Right? i hope?

[17:00:47] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I do know a lot about the known Universe

[17:00:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Let's hope this includes it

[17:01:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The Void and I are familiar...but

[17:01:10] <✦[rp] The Wizard> We'll see

[17:01:24] <✦[rp] cinder> Have you ever seen anything like this?

[17:01:39] <✦[rp] cinder> I haven't, but then again I haven't seen a lot of things

[17:01:48] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Once....maybe?

[17:01:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The scarring I saw last night looked similar

[17:02:11] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It looks similar to the destruction from our previous world, but not the same

[17:02:22] <✦[rp] cinder> Do you want a... Closer look? There was plenty going on last night.

[17:02:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yeah, why not

[The Wizard sets down his spatula and walks over to get a closer look. He cringes back as Cinder sighs, unfurling their wings. Though the feathers are tousled by sleep, the damage is still clear.]

[17:02:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> By the Void this can't feel good...

[17:03:10] <✦[rp] cinder> Not one bit! Ha.

[17:03:33] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The pain must be unimaginable, this goes beneath the skin for sure

[17:04:17] <✦[rp] cinder> Beneath the skin? I guess that would make... Some sense.

[17:03:56] <✦[rp] cinder> It used to be... Not much of a problem. Before I came here, as in. It was like it was just in some sort of. Stasis? But it's been worse.

[17:04:11] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Hmm.

[17:04:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> This is definitely something else for sure-

[He nods to a seat at the table in the center of the room.]

[17:04:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Why don't you take a seat, I'll bring you over some breakfast

[Cinder sighs in relief, tucking their wings behind them.]

[17:05:27] <✦[rp] cinder> yeah, thanks.

[The Wizard pulls out a plate from a cupboard and sets a stack of chocolate chip pancakes in front of Cinder.]

[17:05:39] <✦[rp] cinder> Chocolate chips? Fuck yeah.

[The Wizard carries over a pancake and a few slices of bacon for himself.]

[17:05:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Joco got em for me! They're delicious

[He takes a seat and begins to snack on the bacon as he thinks.]

[17:06:20] <✦[rp] The Wizard> There are a few explanations I can think of, but I can't really think of any way to lessen this

[17:06:33] <✦[rp] cinder> I dont think I've had actually well cooked food for a while. Since last time I was over at Joco's for the night maybe? Thank you,

[17:06:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Of course! If you want more I can always make more

[17:06:51] <✦[rp] cinder> Well hey, I'd take anything at this point. Even just... Understanding it better

[The Wizard nods.]

[17:07:00] <✦[rp] cinder> What're you thinking?

[17:07:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Well-

[17:07:27] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It looks like it might be a chronic injury

[17:07:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You were injured in this way after your contact with the power of the Void

[17:08:14] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I believe what you might be experiencing are "flareups" due to stress

[17:08:10] <✦[rp] cinder> Well, uh- I was injured beforehand

[17:08:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You were-

[17:08:17] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Before?

[17:08:31] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, it was unrelated. It just... Changed. Got worse?

[17:08:31] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What'd you mean?

[17:08:40] <✦[rp] cinder> I wasn't injured like this before.

[17:09:05] <✦[rp] cinder> My wings were... clipped, I suppose. But I was struggling, so some blood got drawn and all that.

[17:09:21] <✦[rp] cinder> It wasn't anything that shouldn't have regrown long ago.

[17:09:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Huh...

[17:10:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Maybe it would help if-

[17:10:12] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You told me the whole story?

[17:10:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I know it would be a lot, but-

[17:10:27] <✦[rp] cinder> mm. Are you... Sure? That it would help?

[17:10:58] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, part of me wonders if the injury is psychosomatic, that it exists because you're not facing something

[17:11:03] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Which, I don't know if that's true-

[17:11:12] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But in most cases of trauma, we don't face everything

[17:11:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Or we don't want to face everything

[17:11:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm thinking perhaps...facing the whole truth of what happened might open up some previously unexplored avenues

[17:12:33] <✦[rp] cinder> Right. So it being psychomatic means it's... In my head?

[17:12:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, like a mental block, sort of

[17:13:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Things that get stuck in your mind can flare out and affect your body

[Cinder slowly cuts at the corner of a pancake, they look up at the Wizard, nodding slowly.]

[17:13:48] <✦[rp] cinder> Right. I guess that... makes sense

[17:14:07] <✦[rp] cinder> So, um. I- Where do you want me to start?

[17:14:19] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Hmm...

[17:14:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Maybe start with your wings, and go from there

[17:14:32] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Why were they clipped?

[17:15:19] <✦[rp] cinder> So, my family, back on my home server, we were... Ah this is kind of awkward to admit considering our faction's political stance. We were royalty? Basically?

[17:15:41] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, I feel like I'd heard that vaguely

[17:15:52] <✦[rp] cinder> It was a monarchy, or close enough. My parents had control, I was the heir, I would have been about... 13?

[17:16:03] <✦[rp] cinder> I didn't know a lot about what was going on, but apparently people didn't like how things were being run. So they- did something about it.

[Cinder stops, looking nervously between the Wizard and his pancakes. The Wizard’s face hardens with concern.]

[17:17:31] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The people...your subjects?

[17:17:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They did that to you?

[17:17:54] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, our people. They threw a coup. There weren't other avian hybrids on the server. Our wings were a big deal.I'm lucky, they only clipped mine and cast me out. My parents were executed.

[17:18:11] <✦[rp] The Wizard> By the Void...Cinder I'm sorry

[17:18:28] <✦[rp] cinder> I think they felt... Bad, since I was a child. No one wanted to be the one to do it, so they just... Chased me out. I was lucky.

[17:19:34] <✦[rp] cinder> I mean, if they felt that was the only option, surely it must have been bad. I didn't understand what was happening, but... They must have felt desperate.

[17:19:56] <✦[rp] cinder> I wish I could understand. There's not really a way for me to find out more now, though.

[17:20:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Right. What happened with all that?

[17:20:31] <✦[rp] cinder> With the world?

[17:20:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Something with you and the Void, right?

[17:21:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Unknown power or something?

[17:21:03] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah. Yeah, it...

[17:21:20] <✦[rp] cinder> We didn't know what Unknown were, in my world. But we had stories about them.

[17:21:43] <✦[rp] cinder> About beings stronger than any person, who could destroy things or set them right with the raise of a hand.

[17:22:13] <✦[rp] cinder> I had read books about them. I thought maybe, one could help me. If I could just get one to hear me out, they could fix what had clearly gone wrong.

[17:22:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh-

[17:22:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I had been curious as to how Unknown were brought to your world

[17:22:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Did you...summon one?

[17:23:33] <✦[rp] cinder> yeah. i hoped someone would answer, and someone did. She was meant to be watching over our world, I think. When she answered me, she seemed so kind. I was so scared, and she told me there were ways to fix things.

[17:24:41] <✦[rp] cinder> That she couldn't do it, she wasn't meant to meddle, but I could. She could help me do what I needed to do. I don't even know what that was, really, I just.... I wanted things to go back to normal.

[17:24:50] <✦[rp] cinder> I was so fucking stupid.

[17:27:21] <✦[rp] cinder> She told me that, if we did it right, I could use her power. I could hold it for a moment, and I could make everyone see me, listen to me, for long enough to set things right. And then she would take it back.

[17:27:54] <✦[rp] cinder> I asked her why she would help me, and she said... She told me she had been so, so bored. And she was so excited for something exciting to happen.

[As Cinder says this, the Wizard has an expression of dire familiarity cross his face.]

[17:28:25] <✦[rp] cinder> Have I ever explained the horns to you?

[He almost has to clear his throat to say this: ]

[17:28:33] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No, I don't think you ever did

[17:28:43] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I thought perhaps they were a part of your family

[17:28:41] <✦[rp] cinder> I don't have any goat ancestry or anything. They arent common for avians from my world

[17:28:47] <✦[rp] cinder> They were Hers.

[The Wizard sits back in his chair.]

[17:28:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> That is something-

[17:29:02] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They never returned to her then

[17:29:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> When you took on her power...

[17:29:15] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm guessing that's the next part of the story

[17:29:43] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah. Yeah, you'd be... right enough about that.

[17:29:32] <✦[rp] cinder> She had these long, spiralling horns. When she handed whatever part of her power over to me she did, they grew in. I didn't even notice at the time. Not until after.

[17:30:04] <✦[rp] cinder> I can't explain what happened. I don't understand it. She told me I didn't need to, not to get things done.

[17:30:08] <✦[rp] cinder> I didn't mean to do it.

[17:30:21] <✦[rp] cinder> You... You understand, right? I never wanted it to happen.

[17:30:42] <✦[rp] cinder> I was just going to make things right. I was so scared. I- I never wanted any of this.

[The Wizard folds his hands on the table and nods.]

[17:31:30] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Power is a thrall more addictive than anything

[17:31:35] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I know that better than anyone

[17:31:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Once it seeps into your bloodstream, it is impossible to see anything else but the tinge of red at the edges of your eyes

[17:32:26] <✦[rp] cinder> I was only going to use what she gave me to keep myself safe, long enough to try and talk. But there was this... this voice? Except it wasn't something I could hear, and it wasn't words. it was just... feeling.

[17:33:29] <✦[rp] cinder> My people had killed my parents and thrown me out. They wanted to see me bleed. There was no repairing it. The only thing I could possibly do is.... Raze it all down. There was nothing to be created from something so broken.

[Cinder looks up at the Wizard with an intensity in aer eyes.]

[17:34:04] <✦[rp] cinder> It wanted me to destroy it all. It wanted to consume. And it was so, so easy to let it.

[The Wizard does not look away. He blinks once, and then averts his gaze.]

[17:34:33] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The voice of the Corruption

[17:34:44] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Nothing else it could be but that

[17:34:59] <✦[rp] cinder> What... What is that?

[17:35:21] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Tainted Void Code, a dangerous weapon only to be used in dire circumstances by Unknown

[17:35:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It was what killed our last world

[17:35:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> A single line can multiply into a deadly worm in weeks

[17:35:53] <✦[rp] cinder> I thought the last world was... Slow.

[17:36:01] <✦[rp] cinder> Something slowly eating at it

[17:36:04] <✦[rp] cinder> Mine was so fast.

[17:36:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Corruption and consumption are so similar but perhaps...slightly different?

[17:36:38] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Accelerated by rage and spite...turned into-

[The Wizard mumbles to himself, thinking it over, puzzling it out.]

[17:37:18] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You said that she gave you her power-

[17:37:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> How much of it did she give you?

[17:37:50] <✦[rp] cinder> I don't know. She was stilll.... She was far from a player, even when she gave it to me. She was still something more.

[17:38:18] <✦[rp] cinder> I saw her, in the moment before everything went wrong. She was so mad, she dove for me like she was going to... I don't even know.

[17:38:55] <✦[rp] cinder> I doubt she died, if I didn't. I think she still... I don't know. I've never seen her since, but I'm sure she's still there. I'm sure she's still looking for me

[17:39:23] <✦[rp] cinder> That's the main reason I ended up here. I can't just stay on a normal world and try to ignore it all. She'd find me, I'm sure. And I don't know what she'd do when she did

[17:40:23] <✦[rp] cinder> And my old world is just... Gone. I did that. I killed so many people, Wiz. They're dead because of me.

[17:40:50] <✦[rp] cinder> I should have gone out with them. Maybe I was meant to. I don't- It can't be fair.

[The Wizard shakes his head.]

[17:40:44] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They are not dead because of you

[17:40:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They are dead because an Unknown offered you her power

[17:41:19] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, and i took it. And I used it, and I doubt it was how she wanted me to.

[17:41:35] <✦[rp] The Wizard> How do you think she wanted you to use it?

[17:42:13] <✦[rp] cinder> I... I think she just wanted me to do something interesting. Maybe to kill some people, maybe just unsettle the world. To... Fuck. To give her a show?

[The Wizard hums beneath his breath. A hand goes to the emerald on the outside of his arm.]

[17:42:31] <✦[rp] cinder> I wasn't meant to destroy the world itself. I know that much.

[17:43:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I think that power is still within you

[17:43:35] <✦[rp] cinder> You... What?

[17:43:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Is that voice still there?

[17:44:29] <✦[rp] cinder> No, it- well. It wasn't. before we started trying to bring something to us, it wasn't

[17:44:35] <✦[rp] cinder> Now I'm not sure.

[17:45:06] <✦[rp] cinder> There's something messing with my head. it's not like it was the first time, so clear. But I feel like I can't think straight sometimes

[17:44:47] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You've been hearing it near the Void holes then, I presume

[17:45:26] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, it gets worse near them. But I can't just avoid them. I need to check on them, I need to be near them.

[17:46:06] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I see

[Cinder covers his face.]

[17:46:16] <✦[rp] cinder> Fuck. This was... A lot. I'm sorry.

[17:46:37] <✦[rp] cinder> If you- uh. If you want me to like, skip town or something, I would get it.

[17:46:43] <✦[rp] cinder> I can go somewhere else

[17:46:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Cinder dear, trust me, this is not the first time someone's laid out their whole story to me

[17:46:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Especially not the first one to do it at this very dining table

[17:46:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It was nothing more than I expected

[17:47:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What happened in your past was something you did because you were in a dark and terrible place

[17:48:02] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You were a child in the middle of a siege

[17:48:12] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Any person who values their own life would fight to survive

[Cinder throws their hands away and sets them onto the table. They shout suddenly, breaking the quiet hum of the Wizard’s voice.]

[17:48:19] <✦[rp] cinder> Well, that;s great and all, but I caused the death of so many people. I... I brought about the ruin of an entire world for nothing but me being upset. You cannot be so unbothered about it!

[The Wizard goes quiet. Cinder’s lips quiver.]

[17:48:55] <✦[rp] cinder> You can't possibly still be okay with me after that!

[Barely a whisper: ]

[17:49:11] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You would be surprised by the things many of us had to do to survive

[17:49:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You'd be surprised what we can live with

[He looks up into Cinder’s face.]

[17:49:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Does it bother me? In a way, yes

[17:49:27] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No one deserves to die

17:50:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But we can't change what we've done

[17:50:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> We can only promise to atone for it, and move forward promising to be someone who will stop those things before they happen

[17:50:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I trust that you will do that

[He furrows his brow.]

[17:50:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Do you understand my logic there?

[Cinder shakes her head.]

[17:51:16] <✦[rp] cinder> No. Not at all.

[17:51:44] <✦[rp] The Wizard> At some point I think you may

[17:51:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You might want to talk with Joco about their background

[17:52:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You two have more in common I think than you might realize

[Cinder presses aer lips together, ae draws in a short breath.]

[17:52:10] <✦[rp] cinder> How can I atone for it if they're gone? If I'm here, having fucking breakfast and getting to be around people and pretend I'm not a ticking timebomb waiting to do something horrible again?

[17:52:34] <✦[rp] cinder> How is it atonement if I get to be happy and they are never gonna get that chance again?

[A long silence passes between them. The Wizard shakes his head.]

[17:52:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I don't know

[He catches Cinder’s eyes, as if trying to pass on some sort of personal advice without saying it in full.]

[17:53:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But at some point the misery will swallow you if you keep thinking like that

[Cinder’s wings wrap painfully around their shoulders.]

[17:54:01] <✦[rp] cinder> I don't know how I'd tell Joco this. They're... They're the first thing I've had like family since I lost it all. I couldn't deal with them looking at me differently

[17:54:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They won't, and I know that personally

[The Wizard shuffles in his seat, tries to straighten his back.]

[17:55:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Cinder, are you afraid of yourself?

[17:55:28] <✦[rp] cinder> Wouldn't you be?

[17:55:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I would be

[17:55:58] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But I always knew how to control it

[17:56:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The power, I mean

[He shakes his head, trying to free himself from distraction.]

[17:56:20] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Sorry, Cinder I'm thinking about that Unknown mostly

[17:56:44] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They were idiotic to give you that power with no warning or preparation

[17:57:18] <✦[rp] cinder> Yeah, clearly it didn’t go well for them

[17:57:18] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Emotions heighten ability

[17:57:30] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They should've known your volatility

[17:57:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> They should've known what was going to happen

[Cinder’s hand comes up to their chest.]

[17:57:33] <✦[rp] cinder> And you say it might still be... In me somewhere?

[17:57:44] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I still don't know

[17:57:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It might be?

[17:57:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It might be an echo

[17:57:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It could overall be psychosomatic

[He pauses.]

[17:58:01] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It's probably not

[17:58:09] <✦[rp] cinder> Is that better or worse?

[17:58:30] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Better that we know it might be there, worse in that you still don't know how to control it

[17:58:51] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But-

[17:58:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> And this is going to sound a little dumb

[17:59:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Would you like me to teach you some exercises?

[17:59:12] <✦[rp] cinder> Huh?

[17:59:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Back when I was a young student in the Academy, they would teach us exercises to keep our abilities from going haywire under times of extreme emotion or stress

[18:00:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Mostly breathing exercises, and some gentle movements

[18:00:13] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You'd be surprised how well they work to center you

[18:02:24] <✦[rp] The Wizard> If anything ever happens, which I'm not saying could happen, instead of panicking, the exercises can take over

[18:02:36] <✦[rp] cinder> Huh. I mean... If you think it could help? I'd take anything at this point. I trust you.

[The Wizard nods.]

[18:02:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Alright, here

[The two spend the next twenty minutes or so going through different breathing and grounding exercises. The Wizard teaches Cinder the best patterns for breathing that will slow the heart rate and calm the mind and body.]

[18:03:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> There's also another exercise you can do, where you press your hand under your armpit, and it makes it feel like you're giving yourself a hug

[The Wizard places his right hand under his armpit and hugs his left to his shoulder.]

[18:03:59] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It releases transmitters that mimic feeling another person's heartbeat, which slows down the processes in the body

[18:04:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Very good for calming down all around

[Cinder mimics him. They sit for a while together in that position until the Wizard lets it go, and Cinder follows.]

[18:04:53] <✦[rp] cinder> Huh, okay. Those seem... Weird but kind of nice

[18:05:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I know they seem a bit dumb at first, but trust me, they help a lot

[18:05:10] <✦[rp] cinder> Thank you

[18:05:25] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Of course

[18:05:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> In terms of getting those wings fixed up-

[18:06:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It's possible that you could find some sort of ritual to remove whatever remains inside of you

[The Wizard shakes his head.]

[18:06:27] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Damn, I just gave Faulkner Null back to give to Ollie, or else we could've checked your Code

[18:06:56] <✦[rp] cinder> We could always try it another day? If you'd be okay with that.

[18:07:27] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh sure!

[18:07:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I could give you some of my books on the Void in the meantime if you were interested in reading up on it

[18:07:56] <✦[rp] cinder> That could be good, yeah. The more I know the better, I guess.

[18:08:13] <✦[rp] cinder> Though I don't even know how I'd go about looking for a ritual

[18:08:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'll get you some books on occult practices and the Void, that might give you some ideas

[18:08:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I might be able to build something as well to aid in that

[18:09:00] <✦[rp] cinder> Thank you

[18:09:19] <✦[rp] cinder> I... I don't get it. You know what I've done. why are you helping me?

[18:09:38] <✦[rp] cinder> It would be easier to not. It would be safer for you, probably, to just tell me to fuck off. You and everyone else.

[18:10:11] <✦[rp] cinder> You say it does bother you but you act entirely as if it doesn't. I just don't understand it.

[The Wizard pauses for a moment.]

[18:10:38] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Perhaps I don't wish to see anyone upset, and I say what I think will cause the least social blunders

[18:10:52] <✦[rp] The Wizard> In many ways, it seems that you wish to be punished for what you've done

[18:11:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I think I just said in that moment what you wanted to hear

[He stands from the table, picking up his plate. He takes Cinder’s as well. His voice trails off slightly as he walks into the kitchen.]

[18:11:26] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I used to be a Researcher and Scholar for a school of Unknown. I have seen many terrible things

[18:11:31] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I've done them, as well

[He struggles with trying to say something as he puts the places in the sink. The Wizard leans against the edge of it.]

[18:11:40] <✦[rp] The Wizard> If you-

[18:11:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> If you couldn't be forgiven-

[How could I?]

[He pulls away from the sink.]

[18:12:02] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No matter dwelling on that

[Cinder looks at the Wizard with concern.]

[18:12:04] <✦[rp] cinder> Fuck

[18:12:17] <✦[rp] cinder> Sorry, I- didn't mean to bring up anything for you too

[He steps away from the kitchen, waving his hands, but not making eye contact.]

[18:12:24] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No, no, no

[18:12:32] <✦[rp] The Wizard> If anything you've enlightened places where I should grow as well

[18:13:06] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I've made you relive much today, shouldn't I bear some of the burden as well?

[18:13:25] <✦[rp] cinder> I'm not so sure that's fair

[18:13:41] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No?

[18:14:28] <✦[rp] cinder> It's my own mistakes, you shouldn't have to carry their weight. But... if you can accept me despite what I've done, I';m sure that whatever it is you've done, I'd understand

[The Wizard nods gently.]

[18:15:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Well, we can plan to see one another again soon, perhaps?

[18:15:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I should probably check the fairgrounds, check up on everyone and make sure they're alright

[18:16:03] <✦[rp] cinder> I think I'd like that, yeah.

[18:16:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Wonderful, I'll send you a letter then when I've retrieved Null

[Cinder stands from the table, pulling a flower from their lapel.]

[18:17:17] <✦[rp] cinder> This is kind of stupid, but... You're the only person who fully knows what happened to my home. You're one of the only people left who even know about it, that means. This was our national flower, I just... I feel like it's right you have one.

[18:17:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh!

[The Wizard takes the Lily, holding it gently in his hands.]

[18:17:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Thank you Cinder, this means a lot

[18:17:45] <✦[rp] cinder> Someone should remember the people who died. Someone besides me.

[The Wizard smiles at the flower.]

[18:17:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, I will carry them with me

[18:18:48] <✦[rp] cinder> I... I don't know if you're inclined towards hugs or not but.

[18:18:57] <✦[rp] cinder> Would you want to-

[18:19:01] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes- yes of course

[The Wizard hugs Cinder, and Cinder tearfully hugs him back.]

[18:19:25] <✦[rp] cinder> Thanks, Wiz. Thanks a lot.

[18:19:37] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Always

[After Cinder leaves for home, the Wizard molds an ingot of gold into a small pin, and fastens the lily to his vest.]

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