the beach episode (dated before the east mission)

[fallingsand]

There's a small slice of sandy beach between mountains and wasteland, where the South meets Central, only an inlet of ocean between them, and that is where Bruno has decided to set up camp.

Literally.

He only had a simple tent and supplies for two initially. Tatara had asked if he could join him on his little trip out and how could he say no? Unfortunately for him, Tatara may have decided to invite everyone else, too, so, welcome, everyone, to the beach episode and a chance to relax after a potentially rough week in the City of Rain.

The sand is warm and fine, the water isn't too chilly, and scrubby little palm trees and plant life dot the dunes. Sea birds are the most active wildlife out here, not counting whatever fish can be found dwelling in the depths of the inlet between South and Central or further out into the ocean. It's comfortable enough... unless you hate sand, that is! You don't hate sand, right?

Since Tatara's arrival, more than Bruno's humble setup can be found.

- There's food fit for a picnic and enough bottles of wine for the evening.

- In the evening, a (non-deadly) bonfire will be built and there'll be pillows to sit on for those who don't want to sit directly on the sand.

- A few colorful rough wool blankets laid out under umbrellas meant to provide shade.

- There's still only one sad-looking tent... However! Bruno's gone ahead and enchanted it so that, when one pushes the cloth flap aside and enters, they'll find a much more comfortable setup inside.

And, of course, anything the other wizards have decided to bring! Bruno wasn't expecting a party but now that it's here, he sure can't tell them not to have fun however they want.

Comments

[revengier]

You can?

[ Oh. Huh.

He won't question why it's usually bad because he can easily see how it could be, but... ]

Why is it confusing here?

[fallingsand]

Could be I tried figuring out how this all ends too early but... I mean, it isn't unusual to see stuff with different possible outcomes or. Or that kind of stuff but this one got a whole lotta them. More than usual.

[ And since he's already pretty sure he's going to ask what those were, Bruno will save him the breath by adding, ]

There was one where twenty-five people were facing the moon down... and another with twenty-one... one was of our mentor being controlled by the spirits... and another of the manor on fire, burning down.

[revengier]

[ Oh.

That's... a lot of varying outcomes, all with different implications that Kurapika knows would be a waste of time to try and pick apart now. ]

You know, I think confusing was the best way to describe it. When you typically use your power, are you ever able to prevent the outcomes that you see?

[fallingsand]

It isn't usually my call. People... They come to me for answers, but most of the time, I can only give them more questions. If they don't like the path they're on, it's up to them to change it, but I couldn't tell ya how.

This is a little different, though, isn't it? I. I could probably get more specific to closer we are to whatever it is that's gonna happen.

[revengier]

[ Ah, he can see that. They come to Bruno for answers only to see their potential future, which leads them to second guessing every decision they make after. It sounds miserable. ]

You probably could. [ He pauses. ] But would you want to?

[ That, Kurapika thinks, is the important question here. ]

[fallingsand]

It's...

[ It is an important question, he knows. ]

Well, that has a complicated answer, y'know? I don't enjoy my gift. It's rarely brought happiness. This, though? This isn't only my life on the line, but everyone else's, too. I looked because... because I was worried there'd be no way home...

[ Ultimately, that was a selfish demand for his own power, so he's only done this to himself. ]

I still don't know if there is a way or not but, now? I would try for all of us, not only me. I don't want a bad ending for anyone.

[revengier]

[ He nods. That, he can understand. ]

I wouldn't have faulted you for saying no, you know.

[ Kurapika is happy for any potential advantages they could have here, but some methods and advantages cross too many boundaries. ]

But I'm glad that you're willing to do something that you don't enjoy that for all of our sakes. Not everyone would.

[ Plenty of people prioritize their comfort over what must be done. ]

[fallingsand]

[ Kurapika might not, but Bruno would have. His family's gifts are meant to help the community, no matter what. That's the concept the entire family runs on, even if it runs them ragged so often. At least here, they won't blame him for a bad vision.

He hopes, anyway... ]

I wouldn't be glad about it just yet. I don't know when checking again will be more useful than what I've seen already or even if it'll turn up anything new, y'know?

[revengier]

Mm, that's fair. I suppose after we've completed more of these missions, you might find checking worthwhile, but...

[ He shakes his head. ]

Overdoing it would help no one. Besides, it's your ability, so I'm sure you'll know when it feels right to check.

[fallingsand]

[ Bruno has to pause and think about that. Does he know...? ]

Huh, I suppose I do know when it feels right. I just. I'm used to it never feeling right but having to do it anyway. Or... or was used to it, before I stopped.

[revengier]

[ When one becomes accustomed to their own abilities, they simply know. That's what Kurapika is about to express when he gets stuck on something else— ]

You stopped? I suppose it's not that surprising, if you didn't like your ability.

[fallingsand]

Yeah. I decided to just. Stop. For the last ten years, uh, though it did mean becoming a hermit.

[ In a way, that is. He just holed up in a hidden room rather than somewhere off in the wilds. ]

[revengier]

A hermit... is that why you lived communally with rats?

[ It makes sense, in a way. Though, it confuses him all the same, and his eyebrows knit together. ]

Why would giving up your ability force you to become a hermit? Was it so no one could ask you to use it?

[fallingsand]

That's... kinda it, yeah. The other reason is I saw something coming that I. I couldn't tell anyone about. Not yet. Only people knew I'd been asked to look into it, s-so I... just... vanished instead of trying to lie about it.

[ It's complicated! But yes, that is also where the rat roomies come in. ]

[revengier]

Would talking about it have caused chaos?

[ That's the only reason he thinks going into hiding would be justified, but... he doesn't know the extent of Bruno's situation, so he can't exactly pass his judgment here. ]

[fallingsand]

Mmhm. It would have caused a lot of damage. At least, I... that's what I suspected, anyway, and I'm not usually wrong about that kinda stuff.

[revengier]

You do know your situation best, after all.

[ And what he does with his ability is his choice, in Kurapika's eyes. ]

Although, I wonder if you regret vanishing instead of weathering the damage.

[ It isn't a question, but rather something akin to wondering aloud—Bruno doesn't have to answer. ]

[fallingsand]

[ There's a long pause after Kurapika says that. There are so many ways to answer that and Bruno can't think of any single one that explains everything he's felt these past ten years. He's been a ghost in his own home, longing to speak to his family again, no matter how they might feel about him. ]

I... miss my family, despite everything. I do. Only the damage would have ruined someone else's life and she was just a little kid then. I couldn't do that to her.

[revengier]

[ Ah. A kid, someone with their whole future ahead of them... as if Kurapika isn't basically one himself, but he's made enough choices that his future is pretty clear. There's not much he can do to change that, but someone much younger? That's a different story. ]

I understand. Faced with dealing with my own consequences or ruining the life of someone so young... I don't know that I would have done anything differently.

[fallingsand]

I just hope there's still time to change her future. It might be too late by the time I get back from here or... or even if we do get back.

[ Though he can't imagine any great outcome. He goes back, convinces everyone it's his fault, that he did it on purpose, that Mirabel is an innocent, then... what? Leave the valley forever?

That's no choice to present Kurapika with, however. It's only something he can answer. ]

Though there's probably no point in fretting over it here and now, huh?

[revengier]

If you're thinking logically, then no, there isn't.

[ Buuut he knows that "logic" doesn't exactly apply to reality or where one's thoughts will drift towards. ]

That said... you're going to fret over it anyway, aren't you? Don't worry about whether or not you should or shouldn't, in that case. Use the time you've been given here to get creative with how you might change her future.

[fallingsand]

I sort of already have a back-up plan, at least, so... that's... a start, anyway.

[ He isn't sharing that plan with anyone because it is, in fact, still the one where he takes all the blame. This is the only way forward in his mind. ]

Sheesh, I've been spending my whole beach trip bemoaning my own problems. How about we change the topic a bit? Uh, your mana area. Have you figured it out yet?

[revengier]

[ He's kind of curious about that backup plan, honestly, but Kurapika knows what it looks like when someone clearly doesn't want to discuss something.

So... ]

I have. The renowned ruins in Central. When it's empty, it's rather peaceful.

[ Though there's more to it than just that, so he'll elaborate. ]

I like the idea that people who are long gone have left their mark on the world.

[fallingsand]

Huh. Do you think you'd be able to use anywhere with empty ruins like that?

[revengier]

I could certainly try. Though I think the history of those ruins in particular appeals to me. People still visit them frequently to see them, so it's a sure mark of their impact on the world even now.