[ audio ]

[neurotoxicity]

[ If Ivy sounds a tiny bit tired, that's because she is. For a number of reasons that she's really inclined to just not think about. Luckily it seems like the place is getting weird again and that means there's a distraction that she can turn her full focus to. ]

I think there's something we all need to talk about regarding this place. [ Well, there's probably a lot of somethings. ] Has anyone overheard what the locals are talking about now? Evidently Aterat was known for it's Magic Academy. News to me. [ Her tone is dry. It shouldn't be news to her, she's got entire files on the information she's collected about this place. ] Nothing I've compiled from locals previously has ever mentioned that, until now.

But that's not abnormal is it? Seems like every time something new shows up here they act like it's always been here. One man I spoke to was actually annoyed that I wasn't concerned about it. Evidently, if I was really interested in helping Aterat I should be concerned about what's happened there. Not that I'd given any indication I was interested in helping. I guess he took my curiosity on the subject to mean I wanted to help figure out what's going on.

[ She pauses for a second. ] I would like to know what's going on though. Why does this keep happening and what does it mean when it happens? Are we going to see an Academy appear soon? [ And if so, what sort of trouble would that inevitably bring? ] How many instances of this can we list at this point? [ The sound of paper can be heard shuffling around quickly. ] There was the Lighthouse... the chocolatier and noble district...and [ she seems reluctant to actually speak about this one for some reason ] the recent carnival. They always seem to act like they've always known about these places. Maybe it's time we try to figure out why that is.

Comments

audio;

[harrythelizard]

[He has pointedly not spoken to her, or to many people, since he went to the carnival, for reasons he'd also rather not discuss.]

I'm a little offended I haven't gotten my acceptance letter, but I'm coping.

[But that sounds like a plan, working together, on a project instead of just talking.]

It's...almost like an awakening, isn't it? Like they found something they'd forgotten.

[neurotoxicity]

Are you? You're mentioning it after all. [ It's meant to be teasing and yet her tone is a mixture of tension and restraint.

A clicking sound could be heard in the background, as if she were just clicking a pen open and close. ]

Something they'd forgotten...I hadn't looked at it from that angle.

[harrythelizard]

Coping, Ivy. I didn't say I'd accepted it.

[Great. Now their banter was awkward, and why wouldn't it be? Maybe they should just get down to business. By the sounds coming across the line, she was just as anxious as he was.

Awesome.]

Yeah. The question is why? big groups of people don't forget things unintentionally. You might forget the kettle, or the laundry, but a whole academy, that by the sounds of it was the center of activity in the town and you just left it in your other pants? I don't buy it.

[neurotoxicity]

Maybe if you find out what happened to it, you'll be given an invitation. [ She moves on from that extremely quickly though. ]

You'd think. But they were very insistent I'm in the wrong for not knowing it was here. Maybe the question isn't why, but who.

[harrythelizard]

Shucks, you think so?

[Right. Business. Clearly the safer topic.]

Or it's both. The Aspects seem like a good place to start asking.

[neurotoxicity]

Maybe if you're good. [ Though her tone said there was a doubt for that. ]

I'd forgotten they existed. [ And said super rude. ] Watts has a suggestion for you to try somethin fi you can.

[harrythelizard]

I'll do my best to be on my best behavior.

[Or Stupid Harry could get the idea of trying to flirt with her again. That guy never had good ideas.]

Okay... What's Watts' suggestion.

[neurotoxicity]

Sure.

[ She moves on in a rush. ] If you could use magic to tell if the locals have been manipulated in any way.

[harrythelizard]

[Cool. That went well.]

Sure, I can use some charms to check for certain types of manipulation, or at least types of manipulation I know. There are more things in Heaven and Earth, or something that makes me sound like I have culture.

[neurotoxicity]

It'll rule things out even if you don't find anything. That's all detective work really is, ruling things out until you only have one thing left on the list.

[harrythelizard]

Yeah...I know. [This was just going better and better.]

I'll take a look around and see what I come up with.

[neurotoxicity]

Thanks. I'll let Watts know.

[harrythelizard]

Yeah, I'll, uh...let you know what I find out.

[neurotoxicity]

[ There's an awkward static that drags on way too long. ]

I'm sorry.

[harrythelizard]

[Wait. She was sorry? Sorry for what? She didn't need to be sorry.]

I...no. No. I'm sorry.

[neurotoxicity]

It's not your fault.

[harrythelizard]

We must remember different things, because I remember doing a lot of goading.

[neurotoxicity]

You weren't yourself.

[harrythelizard]

Not...completely, no, but I wasn't-

...it's complicated.

[neurotoxicity]

Wasn't what?

[harrythelizard]

Anybody could be that guy. I could be that guy.

[I came really close to being that guy.]

[neurotoxicity]

But you're not, are you?

[harrythelizard]

No, but...I could be. Everyone has something that could push them to doing something they can't come back from, right?

[neurotoxicity]

[ She made a bitter sounding chuff. ] Right. I guess we both know about that now.

[harrythelizard]

Yeah, I...guess so. [He cleared his throat.] How are you doing?