aterat | [ audio ]

[ 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.

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[ He wished it could be different for his friend, wished he could offer her more help on that matter… But it wasn’t as though he could change anything, couldn’t go back and fix what had happened. He supposed all he could do was try to help her here and now, either by nudging her in the direction of better things or listening in these situations. ]

Ah… That on top of the uh- rest of it makes it terribly complicated, then. I’m sorry, Ivy. [ He mumbled with an apologetic tone. Lucky that he’d been around people from later time periods to have a better idea of how one referred to someone’s sexuality. He knew what it was like to have feelings that were less than platonic for a friend who wouldn’t ever really express that kind of interest. It was a difficult situation for her to be in. Especially where she was as close to Rachel as she was. ]

Because avoiding him has worked out well for you so far?

[ He asked with a raised brow, not meaning for it to come out the way it did… But it was hard to not point out that she ran into him, anyway. Avoiding someone only worked for so long in an environment as contained as theirs. ]

I know it’s awkward and less pleasant, but avoiding him and the topic won’t make it go away.

It's...fine. [ Said it that distinctive voice that actually says 'it's not fine at all, it kind of sucks.' ] She should have never let me bite her the first time. Just like I shouldn't have with Harry. [ Wait, why'd she say that aloud? Her face looked like it flushed for a second before she jerked her head down in hopes that he wouldn't notice. Now it was the time for her to be truly awkward. It was embarrassing enough to admit she had feelings for someone that didn't want a relationship but still kept coming too close or sending out the wrong signals. The worst part was the fact that she'd basically admitted that Rachel's personality and thrill seeking nature often made it where Ivy couldn't even control herself around her sometimes. ]

It could work better. [ Maybe it'd go away....]

[ Ah, yes… Because Llewellyn wasn’t observant both by nature or trade. He didn’t hear her make a particular comparison between Rachel and Harry, or the embarrassed, awkward expression on her face.

Nope. Totally didn’t see that at all.

Only he really did. Which meant that his expression shifted to something complicated as well, and… a little uncertain what to do with that. Taking a deep breath, he rested his chin on the palm of his hand and tried to figure out what to even do say. ]

You know, the more you say, the more I’m starting to see where a lot of the complications are coming from here- well, better than I had before, anyway. The different here, I think, would be the fact that Harry’s clearly expressed an interest still, even after the fact instead of deciding it’s all because of the uh- bite. [ Every day there was something new he never thought he’d say. ] And ‘Could’ doesn’t mean it will.

I know neither of you are going to like it, because of the… awkwardness. [ And he’s not going to point out that neither of them seems to be good at this stuff. He can’t really judge, he’s not much better. The amount of awkwardness and clumsy moments he’d had around Rhy were quite embarrassing to remember sometimes. ] But you both should try to talk at some point… I’d offer to sit in and… [ Mediate? Babysit? He waved a hand vaguely to indicate whatever it could be called. ] to help smooth things over… But I expect neither of you wants an audience, either.

[ Using the Power of Denial Ivy will convince herself that he somehow didn't notice. Too bad it's countered by his introduction of logic. Darn him. Which means that he's finally cornered her into offering up another bit of information she'd always conveniently left out: ] The problem is that I'll want it again and he might too. [ Which would just make her want it more. ] I don't want to do that to him, but I don't know how to separate loving someone and feeding from them.

[ She sighed and her eyes started to sting as she fought back the tears that were threatening to come out. Why was she nearly crying? This was pathetic. ] I shouldn't be telling you this. My crazy issues shouldn't be yours...

[ Llewellyn’s prior comment was proven once again, as Ivy shared a new detail that left him with a better understanding of all the reluctance on her part. Nothing was very easy when it came to matters of the heart, but… this definitely took the cake. ]

Is that not something you could work on learning…? [ He had to ask, knowing that there was a chance given she simply hadn’t been given the opportunity to before, thanks to Piscary. Maybe being here, being free to grow without someone dictating her life, would give her that chance. ] Things are different here, after all… You’re not tied to how things are in your world… And it seems to me that you both could uh- stand to decide what you want rather than taking the choice from each other.

[ The apology gets waved off. The very idea that she felt the need to was absurd. If anything, he wished he could… fix things, somehow. Seeing Ivy so vulnerable, bordering on tears, tugged at his heart. And he had never been good at letting go when it meant someone else’s happiness. ]

If not me, then who? You need to talk to someone, Ivy… Letting all that build up in side doesn’t seem particularly healthy to me… Even if I can’t provide the answers you need, or helpful suggestions, I can at least listen?

[ The pupils in her eyes widened and she snapped her head away from him. He meant well, but it still took a lot for her to not lose her temper with that particular suggestion. ] Do you think I've never tried? Piscary being here or not doesn't change what he did to me, especially not after what he did before I got here. [ She closed her eyes to fight back any sort of tears and in the vague hope that she could pull herself together. Why had she brought this up at all? Or gone here at all?

At least he had a point that she couldn't deny that it wasn't fair to take choices away from others. That one hit home. ] You're not wrong. I wouldn't be any better if I took his choice away, would I? [ What a frustrating point to have made to her right now.

She started to move towards standing up. ]

I should go. I've taken too much of your time. [ But really she wanted to run away. ]

[ Awkwardly, Llewellyn ducked his head slightly as he realized how his idea had been taken. ] I… No, of course not. I’m… sorry if it sounded that way. I simply wondered if this place might present new opportunities for you to do so that you might not have had before… But it seems I was mistaken and… I still have more to understand. [ And he felt terrible for having made the mistake, seeing the look on his friend’s face. It had been a while since he stuck his foot in his mouth, so perhaps he’d been due for it… But he still wished he hadn’t.

He offered a small, apologetic shrug. ] It’s why I think you should both at least try to talk before someone makes a decision… You both deserve it.

[ As she moved to get up, Llewellyn shook his head and pushed himself to his feet as well. Not wanting to chase her out because of his stupid mouth. ] You haven’t taken up much of my time at all, and… I never think of it as a problem or a waste of time to spend with a friend… Even if I don’t always understand a situation as well as I should.

[ He added with an apologetic expression, he wouldn’t stop her from going… But he wanted her to at least know that much. ]

Thank you. It helped. [ Some, which was better than not at all and almost a compliment from her. Almost. ] Have a good rest of your day.

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