this day should be for me

[promittere]

WAXING GIBBOUS FINALE

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PROTECTING THE SAGE

[promittere]

[ The previous sage is very well protected, considering all the enchantments and protections he has around him.

However, the mech seems to have the power to negate any sort of magic, and there's no telling if or when it might target the protective magic surrounding the sage. Some need to hang back on guard duty, just in case. Mika and Ginger, it’s on your shoulders for the start. ]

[lustro]

[ There's not a lot of time to change, but luckily magic solves everything. After all the wizards delegate among themselves, Ginger dons the robes that were gifted to him. The outfit should feel fussy, cumbersome - too many layers, too many dangly bits. Somehow, it feels just right. Somehow, he feels stronger in them. ]

... Think I finally look the part of a wizard.

[ There's a sort of relief to being paired up with Mika even though the situation is tense. Ginger trusts them together.

He sweeps Mika into a hug and presses a kiss to his forehead, the kind between family - a wish for them both to come out of this whole and hale. And - quietly, but not sneakily, he tucks the Mark of Grima into Mika's pocket, where it was meant to go. ]

Take care of yourself for me? I'll take care of myself for you.

[ That's the best way, he knows, to keep them both somewhat in check.

And before anything starts, he takes a moment to whisper to the Central spirits, assuring them that they have him and the others. He hopes they're not scared; he hopes they know the wizards here will defend them. ]

[shortleash]

( Though the robes remind him of the wardrobe favored by vampires, and so aren't to Mika's taste, he had felt the undeniable pulse of power coursing through them when he donned them last; and power, now, was in short supply. Once he's steady on his feet following the impact and the rumbling, once he knows for certain Ginger did not pass in the initial round of attacks—

(and how deathly cold Mika had felt in that brief realization of chance - that Ginger could have fallen victim - that any number of the faces he had grown used to, could have)

—he handles the delegation of tasks with a clench-jawed stolidity, not a word out of him but to go, Ginger in step, to the frozen, half-corporeal boy.

With a turn of his heel he follows Ginger's example in taking on the wizard's robes. His mind is racing a mile a minute, thinking of every possible plan for success - and, in tandem, every exit strategy should all else fail— but only Ginger's gentle prayer for their safety, the hug and the kiss to his hair and the charm in his pocket, returns him to the unpleasant present. )

... I will. And you will, too.

( He's trusting Ginger has a protective charm of his own on him - this thing that rings of Robin's magic. Nevertheless, this statement is an understanding that they both - would have to be okay, that they would try, in the face of the uncertain future, so rapidly coming. )

... I'm not - very good with barriers. ( Better than before, though - before, he could not do them almost at all. He's been improving in other magic, slowly but surely. ) But I think I can do something to at least barricade this room, a little bit. Lend me some power?

( He puts out a hand. In truth, he ought be able to do this spell himself - it's something near and dear to his heart. But... he's nervous, with a foot half out the door. He needs to steady his heart, and knowing he's unsteady makes him that much more uneasy - because he knows they don't have the time for his unease. It's a self-worrying spiral. )

[lustro]

[ Ginger takes his hand, a slow caress of skin. It’s a deliberate touch. He normally doesn’t make such a show (taking seconds to slide his fingers through Mika’s) when they hold hands, but his fingers clench briefly for attention. Then he brings their hands to… their heart beating in Ginger’s chest, so Mika feels what he’s already heard, where the rhythm is fast and nervous - but steady.

It’s not that Ginger is suddenly a less anxious person. It’s that he has Mika. ]

I’m glad we’re here together, Mika. [ Murmured in low, tender tone. ] We can do anything together.

[ Without Mika, he’d be petrified, fear dogging his steps and anxiety spiking his blood like a drug. He’s scared now, but it’s so much more manageable when love is around.

And Ginger will do anything to keep them together. ]

Tell All One’s Heart.

[ Whatever barricades Mika constructs with Ginger’s red-hued magic to help, a mirrored barrier will form behind each one. Always a pair, never alone. ]

CENTRAL FRAGMENT TURN IN

[dyingtohealyou]

[Ahito and Kurapika return with the Central soul fragment! What's up guys they got that done quick and eas-

...]

When did this place get so... flowery?

[lustro]

…? What’s wrong?

[ What’s the problem?? Mika’s magic is beautiful like him - ]

Welcome back, by the way. Did you find…?

[ He glances at Oz. ]

[dyingtohealyou]

Just isn't what I expected when we got back. And yeah, Kurapika's got the fragment.

[They're even (mostly) uninjured, though still a bit scuffed up. Ahito in particular realizes that if Mika's around he needs to heal up some scrapes on his arm, real quick. Gomen about the scent of blood.]

[shortleash]

( Thankfully he overhears Ahito's explanation to Ginger so he doesn't have to deal with the fussing just yet, but he sure smells like a snacc(k). )

It's a barrier, of sorts. ( It definitely functions like one, anyway. Magically reinforced x2! ) It's something I've been working on.

( More pertinently— )

Did you get hurt?

( The scent of blood doesn't seem to be Ahito's, but...? )

NORTH FRAGMENT TURN-IN

[leewards]

[The door to the sage's room bursts open, kicked in by a thankfully stilt-less Ithaqua in an outfit that would have been white... if it weren't for the blood splattered all over the front and the scorch marks on the left side, revealing what was once a nasty burn. He's fine, he stuffed a few mana stones into his mouth to close it up, even if it doesn't completely stop the pain. (14)

(He's not that fine, he's stumbling.)

He tiredly makes his way into the room, placing the soul fragment on the nearest available surface, then drops to the floor. Without his mask, his exhaustion and pain are plain on his face. Without his hood, anyone can also now see that the tiny antlers barely poking out of his hair have grown enough to be more visible, and have grown an extra point each that will branch out further in the future. (15) Not beating the fucked-up deer allegations any time soon.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Oh hey speak of the d-

what the fuck.]

Ithaqua?

[UHHH coming over to check him out, are all the wounds healed on the surface level at least?]

[shortleash]

( can't believe itha got frickt up so bad he turned into a deer... Unfortunately, though, his blood has an appealing scent - touched by the unknown, with a tantalizing "you definitely should not drink this" spice.

The scent of roses in the room is not enough to drown it out. )

... Do you need care immediately, or can you wait until a healer arrives?

( Mika can do his siphoning life trick, but it's not ideal. He'll do it if it's critical, though. )

[lustro]

I did think that you’d return first, but not in this state. Left the old man, did you?

[ In a fond, joking tone and he kneels down next to Ithaqua. ]

So… I've only ever tried this on a plant. [ Healing practice with Comet. He’s not going to bother to elaborate. ] Buuut… let’s see how this goes.

[ Maybe the spirits were listening to him earlier, or maybe Ginger is as fond of Ithaqua as he is of plants, but as the incantation rolls off his tongue (14), his magic works. It’s painfully slow. His magic seems to spread carefully and cautiously over the wound, knitting flesh back to health - the same stitches he’s seen his boss pull off the needle, a much slower pace of what he’s seen his heart (Mika) do when he regenerates.

He is not a healer, but he has watched and learned and practiced earnestly.

If Ithaqua is patient enough to wait out Ginger’s magic, the wounds on his left will heal tender. It’s not a complete heal, but it’s at a state that encourages recovery rather than pain. ]

Whew… My thanks for the last time. How’s that feel? Urianger could probably handle the rest.

[ He looks tired from that, but it’s more the nerves than being too drained. He’s still… okay, he thinks. ]

[impacter]

[Forty minutes after Ithaqua collapses onto the floor, the other half of the pair tucks into the sage room entrance with exhaustion heavy in his posture. It's a brief and silent visit, taking a glance at who is there, looking for the violet-colored shard to make sure it made it in one piece. The blood and charring on his clothing is 1) alarmingly abundant and 2) still remarkably fresh, but enough of his wounds and bruising are patchworking together to show he's at least had some measure of healing despite his rough appearance.

If Ithaqua is still napping on the floor - congrats, he gets the small bag filled with the handful of mana stones Solomon had grabbed plopped right in front of him.

He's not taking any more than he already has to survive that little stunt. Enjoy your spoils, Ithaqua.]

WESTERN FRAGMENT TURN IN

[lighthaus]

[ khun will absolutely go back to Serious mode in a second, but he's walking in here with the fragment + robin and tatara in tow literally just: ]

Here you are, you're welcome. Who else has come back? [ looking around, this is the company absolutely everyone wanted. ]

[lustro]

Congrats on doing your one job.

[ That's it from him. He turns and walks to the other side of the room. ]

[fellheart]

[ here robin is with tatara and khun ig, they are so spotless and clean and uninjured, they probably just sparkled like this the entire way back...

but more seriously: ]

Has anything of note changed while we were out?

[shortleash]

( Well, the walls are covered in thorns and roses, so enjoy that mixed with the scent of whatever bits of blood ppl have spilt on the floor. )

We have the central, northern, and now western shards back. We're still waiting on east and south.

[revengier]

[ Kurapika actually wanted this company!! He’s still hanging around here, trying to decide where he’d best fit. Might as well stick around while he ponders it, right? ]

Seems like you had an easy time.

SOUTHERN FRAGMENT TURN IN

[troublereduction]

[ Day has opened the door to the sage's room, after squinting a little at the rose barricade outside like, huh. This is new.

Despite his best efforts to wring out his clothes once he and Cid got back to the manor, he still looks like a drowned rat, clothes sticking to his body and his hair matted down. ]

I'm baaaack. [ He holds up a green jewel. ]

WHOOPS!

[promittere]

[ As Day walks in—

Boom!

The room shudders from impact... Uh oh! ]

[lustro]

[ Ginger can see the sliver of the window's light rapidly darkening (something large, something dangerous) from behind Day. And while the reflexive barrier and rose barricades are still up - and he hopes to the spirits they hold - he grabs both Day and Mika and forces them all low, bracing for whatever impact is coming. Words are lost at the moment - he just acts. ]

EASTERN FRAGMENT TURN-IN

[foresightis2020]

[ Well, Jing Yuan is essentially going to be essentially hauling ass.

Y'all can assume that Shinjiro is also with him, naturally. Well, they were handling quite a labyrinth in terms of the mission, so it seems it makes sense as to why it took them awhile.

We can make handwaving however the gem/fragment is passed on.

Jing Yuan raises a brow as he catches sight of the nonsense as he returns, and throws up a reinforcement spell to already present defenses.

Then he's gone out on the battlefield right after because he gotta save his boyfriendo from a fall. ]

...?

[promittere]

[ When the final fragment is given is slips through the lighthouse and into the body of the original sage.

The threads are now all gone. Though no one can see this, the five colors in him swirl, and soon settle into the original hues of the original sage. Black hair, white jacket, and at last, he's corporeal.

It's very subtle, and those in the midst of battle may not be able to sense it in the chaos. But one final crack in the breaking world is smoothed over, and, for the first time since arriving here, the world finally feels stable.

Well, as stable as it can be with the full moon gleaming in the sky.

There's a groan from an unfamiliar voice, and he collapses to the ground. His breathing is slow, but even, and he slowly pushes himself up onto his hands and knees. A hand rests on his chest, and he blinks. ]

What...?

a lil rest moment

[leewards]

[If Ithaqua was grey from tiredness when he started the trek here, he's now positively exhausted. He gingerly sets Urianger down onto the floor, and then flops down next to him. With a tired murmur, he dispels his clothing, returning to normal, with his mask and hooded cape. He'd given Tatara a barrier and that took out a lot in him.

Though his ensemble is missing his stilts-- they're likely buried in the rubble somewhere. He'd been ready to go to Urianger's room when the attack began, or course he wouldn't have his stilts.]

[divineth]

[Though Urianger is tired and sore, he's had the benefit of receiving multiple bouts of healing that Ithaqua did not. So once he's set down, he's able to keep himself upright enough to bring his exhausted boyfriend into his lap. He doesn't have a lot of juice in him right now, but that doesn't stop him from enveloping Ithaqua in the warm light of a small field of stars.]

I thank thee for hieing me hither.