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[implying]

[ Somewhere out in the rain — rain, not snow! It's almost delightful after the months of snow — there's a beaming face staring down into a camera. He talks quickly, excitedly. ]

You've heard, surely you've heard, that we're going home. Or, well, I suppose some of you lot might opt to stay, but — I've a proposal!

If you haven't anything absolutely pressing at home, even if I've never properly spoken with you before, come with me! Come with me, I'm going to Cittàgazze. It's this — a hub of worlds, you see, you can get anywhere from there, it seems. Voluntarily! All it takes is finding the right window to lead you into the world you'd like to visit.

Why, you might come with me even if you do have business at home to attend! You could find home, take care of it, and then spend the rest of your time seeing how many pleasurable worlds one can attend in a single month. Hmm? We'll make a contest of it, a corkboard up in a central world for tallies.

[ WIDEST SMILE EVER. ]

Come with me. Rin, Marduk, Collette? All of you!

Comments

[implying]

[ Vanadi is, for once, timely. He's there in about ten minutes (some of us don't have the ability to teleport), glances around once, and slides quickly into a seat next to Marduk. He's close enough to brush shoulders, even if he gives no other sign of acknowledgment. ]

[oversleeps]

[ right. the shoulders thing-- that's nice. (no sarcasm.) even the bit of physical contact that's there feels awkward, though, and he leans forward to rest his chin in his hand. you know, away from vanadi.

he's not really sure where to begin; there had always been the assumption somewhere in his mind that, inevitably, he would have to go home. it wasn't an idea borne out of any particular desire to go back, just... maybe obligation. something like that. ]

So. [ that's all he's got, really. your turn. ]

[implying]

[ Well, he can't just not have contact, that would be terrible. So he leans in a knee instead, to rest it against Marduk's leg. Lean away from that, asshole. ]

I'd like you to come. [ Softly, addressed down to the bartop. ] It's — a risk, I know. But — [ He glances over, looking a little desperate. ] We could find it! We could. The Company has technology for precisely this sort of thing, you know. Locating worlds is what they do.

[oversleeps]

[ the more vanadi talks, the more marduk leans forward, until soon he is gently resting his forehead on the wood of the bar. there's a very strong urge to just run off building in him, but logically he knows that isn't going to help. he hears vanadi out, at least, only marginally disgruntled he can't pull away from that knee as well. jerk.

all that said, and the best he can give in return is: ] I don't know.

[ the main thing is-- he has never really settled with the choice to start things up between the two of them again, after reaching exsilium, which was fine until now, now when it matters. even if they did find a way back to sharn, it wouldn't be the same; you can't always find some trick to have things both ways. ]

[implying]

[ Words he hates to hear. His ears draw back under the hologram of humanity, and he regrets picking anywhere in public to meet. He sets a hand low at Marduk's back, light and tentative. ]

What may I do to convince you?

[oversleeps]

[ vanadi will likely feel him tense up under his hand. holy shit, life is so hard. ]

I need to go back. [ destiny's a hell of a drug-- technicaly not his own, but someone close enough he feels obligated. there's not really anything vanadi can say to be able to change that. ] Won't time be passing everywhere after this? So the search--

[ it's a risk. that's all. ]

[implying]

[ He does feel that, and he feels the resultant guilt, but of course he keeps on. It would be impossible not to. ]

It will, yes. Time doesn't freeze there in quite the same way it does here. [ He chews at his bottom lip unhappily. He could just start lying, busting out the reassurances that they'll find his window immediately — but he keeps quiet. Marduk probably deserves at least that. ]

[oversleeps]

[ in time, he relaxes, and in time, he turns his head just enough to be able to gaze up at vanadi. expressionless, he stares; he's thinking. he's thinking a lot. ]

... I'll consider it. [ said in that dubious tone of voice where the speaker doesn't believe it to be particularly likely. he just doesn't know, man. ]

[implying]

[ He knows the tone very well, because it's the sort he gives to people he'd really prefer not to see again, but would rather not hurt their feelings by out and saying it. He smiles, even if it's not a very bright one. ]

I'd appreciate it.

[oversleeps]

[ at least he actually means it. marduk continues staring for a moment longer before pushing himself upright, sliding out of his seat and turning to leave. let that be the end of it-- if he does decide otherwise, as he's thinking now, he does not want to prolong the good-bye.

he'll just... have to avoid vanadi for a few days, or so. that shouldn't be too hard, right? probably won't even notice he's gone. ]