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Seas Of Erin > Cecilia > A broken heart for every light on Broadway.


Posted by: Seth deCiel Apr 30 2008, 11:31 PM
Seth rested quietly on a bench beside the main thouroughfare, a cheap straw hat atop his head--for some reason he could simply not find a reason nor a part of his mind that was willing to accept the bizarre otherness it had taken before Jochy had left and seemed to only intensify as time went by.

He sat and watched the people passing by, smiling to himself now and again at one or two as he tried to make sense of the way some of them looked at one another. It was a g-me he'd been playing for what felt like forever. And it never ceased to yeild something interesting. Though the mage was rarely sure just what that was.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 30 2008, 11:34 PM
"Nice hat," Elaine said, coming up behind the mage, and she reached for his arm, threading her own through it. "I need to talk to you. I just came from Jochy's father."

Posted by: Seth deCiel Apr 30 2008, 11:37 PM
Seth smiled some, shrugging, "It lacks... much. And it keeps the sun off my face. At least somewhat." The mage laughed some at that, reaching up to rub at his sunburnt cheeks before his mood sobered--and quickly.

"Oh? And what did Maalech have to say?"

Because when the man appeared, there was always something interesting to be gleaned from it.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 30 2008, 11:41 PM
"I want to know, before I tell you," Elaine replied. "Do you know exactly what Jochy is?" she asked. "I mean, not just on a thinking-talking level, but like the way that if someone were to ask you what a pie is and you would say it's flour and water and fat and meat and potatoes. Do you know what Jochy is?"

Posted by: Seth deCiel Apr 30 2008, 11:46 PM
Seth blinked a couple times before his brow furrowed beneath his hat and he looked down at the ground, "I... I would say I know as much as you do. His body once belonged to a friend of his, his memories were splintered off from Jochiem's and... and when Jochiem wished to be rid of the ones that Jochy... I suppose his... his personality is made up of, they went somewhere and..."

The mage shuddered at that, frowning deeply before looking to the woman, "Why? IS. Is that not what you know?"

Jochy had TOLD him that much. Why would she... how COULD she not know?

Unless there was more to this.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 30 2008, 11:48 PM
Elaine raised an eyebrow. "Not anymore," she answered. "That's what I did know. He's been losing memories, hasn't he? He told me about that, just...briefly. What d'you know about the parasite?"

Posted by: Seth deCiel Apr 30 2008, 11:50 PM
The man frowned deeply and looked to the young woman curiously, "I... He had mentioned difficulty remembering..." Seth frowned, looking away and biting his lip, suddenly anxious.

"And of the parasite I know little, save that it will awaken if Jochy is to kill himself. The... the attempt stirred it until it was bound down by Miss Morgana's wardings."

He leaned back some, watching her for a moment, "Why do you ask me these things?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 30 2008, 11:56 PM
"He says that's not true," replied Elaine. "He says Jochy's never been more than the parasite, on its own, in a body, trying to use whatever memories it had from Jochiem and the body's owner to cobble together an understanding of being a person."

Posted by: Seth deCiel Apr 30 2008, 11:58 PM
The mage was silent.

Stunned.

Because, much as it seemed an impossible claim, he did not know Maalech to lie.

He frowned and looked down at the dirt for a time before looking back up to Elaine, "Is. Is it true? Do you believe it to be true?"

It would, if he thought about it, explain some things. And.

And still.

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:03 AM
"I don't know," Elaine replied. "Except that it might..." she bit her lip. "Niabheara and I were talking about trying to get the parasite out of him. But that would kill him, because he is the parasite. That's why him killing himself would do that. There isn't anything but the parasite there. I just...I think it actually...if he and the parasite are one and the same, it's. It's actually better, in a way. We can't get rid of the parasite, but it can be...made more human. And it means that...there aren't two parts of him warring, like we always thought. That's just because of conflicting memories. There's just one part. One Jochy. And I don't think it matters whether he's technically human or not, because it means the person we know is the real thing."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:14 AM
Seth nodded slowly as if to punctuate her points, smiling some, "Yes. I. That certainly makes sense." The mage was quietly optimistic for a moment, thin lips curling into a slight smile, "Unless his mind fragments itself again."

He remembered--OH, how he remembered--his unpleasant encounters with some of Jochy's more vicious personality pieces.

Jochy had said they were integrating, and yet...

The mage looked up at her then, "And. And I should like for him to be more human. I daresay it would be a boon to him. And the rest of us as well."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:18 AM
"But I think his mind might fragment because of the different memories he has," Elaine pointed out. "We could fix that, couldn't we? If he loses some memories and keeps others, and doesn't have conflicts in his brain...or knows where the memories are from, like he does with the ones he took from me, I think it could help him."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:22 AM
At this, the mage's brow furrowed some, "I. Miss Elaine, even at my best I am no mind-mage. That was always Jochy's purview. I." The mage chewed at his lower lip for a moment before looking up at the girl.

"And, further, I am. I am quite loathe to remove anything from his mind. Fill in things where I can do so with facts, yes. And."

He shook his head slowly, "I. I have little enough wish to attempt to... To edit his personality." Though, if he COULD... no. No. "Certainly, you wish only to provide some... some context for his memories, correct?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:27 AM
"Do you think maybe that's why he's good at it?" Elaine asked. "Look, I don't want to edit him. I don't want him to change so much that he's unrecognizable. I just want to...patch up the holes? Give him more stuffing? So he's stable, so he's not always grasping at straws. He's already editing himself. I think..." She bit her lip. "I think if that's really all he is, then the wards...aren't necessary. He could get his powers back. We just need to give him enough to make him stable without the wards."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:30 AM
The mage frowned deeply, considering quietly.

The idea had merit, certainly. The upthrust being, of course, that it might stabilize Jochy's mind some and give him some power of his own.

The potential for failure, though.

"Then the question becomes, simply, how to gain Jochy's permission to do this." Because for all the poking around in other people's heads Jochy had done, he seemed rarely happy to have others doing the same in his.

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:33 AM
"There's the problem," Elaine agreed. "Jochy doesn't want to be a parasite. If he knows he's all parasite, he'll take it as a bad thing. It might make him worse."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:35 AM
Lies. It always came back to lies and Seth was so horrid at them.

Not always, perhaps. But in matters like this...

"Then perhaps we must simply tell him we seek a way to bolster his Arts? I know they have suffered greatly since the markings were placed upon him. I. I cannot imagine that he would have much difficulty accepting that--and it would hardly be a lie."

It all sounded, though, remarkably like justification. He disliked justifying himself so.

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:41 AM
"I wouldn't want to break the wards first," Elaine answered. "And we need to do it slowly. I want to make sure he's capable of standing it with the wards before we ever break them."

She took a deep breath. "he gave me a way to talk to Morgan. I wanted to know what you thought about that"

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:44 AM
"No. If. If it is as you say, then they are.. They are likely all that is allowing him any sort of mental cohesion."

Seth frowned softly, looking down at the ground for a time, "And. And I am made for slow work, Miss Elaine." He frowned some. It meant more time around the other man.

Grand.

But at the mention of his father's name, the young man could only snort, "I... The only thought I have is to wonder why anyone would suggest his counsel."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 12:53 AM
"Good," Elaine replied. "I...I promised him a surprise, if he could go a month without...without sex, but also without hurting anybody, or badly messing anything up. I don't know if there's any way to use that..." She rubbed at her head, then sighed.

"You think Morgan is a bad idea?"

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 12:58 AM
Seth nodded some, trying to push past the image of the two of them, Jochy and she, in bed together enough that such a moratorium would be warranted.

And still.

"It. It may be. Or perhaps there are other ways. You." The mage sighed and spoke after a moment, "You know him best."

It hurt. And it was likely true. And if it was not? It was hardly to either his or Jochy's benefit, anyway.

"And as to Morgan? Unless you require lessons on..." He frowned and ran a scarred hand over his head, forcing himself to take a deep breath, "I am, perhaps, not the best person to ask about him. I. I have little opinion of the man whatsoever."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 01:04 AM
"But what I know of him is also not all right," Elaine pointed out. "It's colored by what I think of myself. We were the same person, not two people watching each other."

She looked cautiously at the man. "I don't know why he wanted me to go to him. I was hoping maybe you would know."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:06 AM
"Lords, I can hardly find a reason to think on the man, Miss Elaine," chuckled the mage, tipping his hat back some as he looked up to her. "And." He sighed some, shrugging, "Loathe as I am to say so, if Maalech has pointed you to him..."

Perhaps Elaine's perspective required intoxicants?

That was likely not fair. The man may, perhaps, have mellowed now that he had bothered to take the time to raise his two newest children...

And Seth shrugged some after it all, "And. And I suppose your thoughts on him are... are coloured by experience. Just as mine are." The mage shrugged some, quirking his narrow lips into a smile, "Though I hope yours are... are somewhat better."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:10 AM
"Not by much," Elaine answered dryly. "I only remember what I know from Jochy," she pointed out. "The way I see it, though, he told me to speak to him. And He wants to see the parasite succeed as much as we want Jochy to succeed. If they're one and the same..." she gave Seth a meaningful look. "Then He is on our side, like it or not."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:27 AM
"I would rather he be on our side than against us," the man said, shrugging some. He turned back to Elaine, giving a look back to her, "If he is on 'our side', we should watch him that much closer. This may have... may have consequences we have not forseen."

But. But MORGAN?

"And I cannot imagine Jochy's memories have given you an impression much more favourable than the one I have of Morgan already."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:32 AM
"No," Elaine agreed, "but he doesn't know me, and he doesn't know about Jochy's memories," she pointed out. "All he has to know is that He told me about the parasite and I want to experiment on it."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:36 AM
"Hm." The sunburnt mage nodded some and looked at the girl for a time, "I suppose he may offer some manner of insight. I suppose." Seth shrugged. "Even with his fights with Jochy, I rather imagine you will be safe enough. Though I should warn you that he often is something of a womanizer. Or fancies himself so."

The mage smirked some and shrugged.

"He is. I do not trust him. And.... mayhaps there is something there."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:38 AM
"I don't trust him either," Elaine replied. "That's why I wanted you to know before I spoke to him.

Then she smirked back at him. "I can deal with Jochy. After Jochy, I'm not worried about a womanizer."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 02:38 PM
"No," Seth murmured, chuckling to himself, "After Jochy, I can rather imagine not."

With a sigh, the mage, rubbed at the back of his neck, "I. I do appreciate your letting me know, Miss Elaine. If it is possible, I will attempt to get more information from Melekain, should I see him again."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 03:43 PM
"I just want someone to know, in case something goes wrong. Someone Judith won't punch," she said, flashing the mage a grin. "There wouldn't happen to be something in your book about this, would there? The one He gave you?"

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 04:25 PM
Seth frowned some before going quiet, pondering for a time before adjusting his hat's fit on his head slightly, "I. There is much in the Book that I have not uncovered. It... it is quite dense with information. I will look into it, though. It was written by Melekain. Perhaps some... perhaps some flash of his intent may be found in it."

A part of him noted the way she spoke of Melekain, the importance and--perhaps--fear that was there. So like Jochy.

The mage could only shrug, smiling at her, "And if it is there, I will do my all to find it out."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:08 PM
"I know. I'm hoping He said something in it, about what the Parasite is, or how...anything," she said. She stood up on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You're wonderful," she informed him. "Thank you."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:15 PM
The blush was hard to see beneath the sunburn on his cheeks, but it was there. Seth shrugged some, adjusting his hat on his head. "I. You need not thank me, Miss Elaine. I. I have not actually FOUND anything yet." Nor, indeed, was he entirely sure there was anything to BE found. Melekain's book was dense with information.

With things perhaps only the other man quite understood.

Still...

Seth smiled and gave Elaine a quick hug in return. "Jochy is far luckier in those who care for him than, I think, he deserves."

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:21 PM
"You think we don't get anything out of this?" Elaine teased. "If we manage to fix up Jochy, we'll have a demigod who owes us. Big." She waggled her eyebrows, grinning. "And the first thing we do is make him make up for all the crap he's dragged us through."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:24 PM
The mage chuckled some and quirked his lips into a thin half-smile.

"I... I suppose I would be happy to simply see him not be so unhappy." Seth shrugged some.

It seemed too simple at this stage. He rather hoped something came along to make that simplicity more logical. "Though I suppose... I suppose a small island of my own would not be fair."

He smiled some, quietly hoping that had been funny.

Posted by: Elaine Romain May 1 2008, 05:26 PM
Elaine grinned, then tugged at the man's sleeve. "He probably owes you at least two islands. With waterfalls."

She waggled her fingers at him, then set off. "I'm going to the cathedral to talk to Morgan," she informed him. "If you don't see me back in an hour...you know where I am. The amphibian one."

Posted by: Seth deCiel May 1 2008, 05:31 PM
Seth chuckled some, nodding, "Truly." He gave the girl a quick hug then, smiling at her.

And when she left, he offered a wave in return, "Be well." He turned then towards the ship--he would need the Book if he was to study it, after all--and began walking.

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