[pfsb] investigations and explorations

[blue_ajah]

Two days after Moiraine brought Wei Wuxian's talismans back to Twin Peaks, after she has taken the time necessary to review all of her notes as well as the histories she has been collecting, she calls Dale Cooper, who is still in Olympia, now, rather than Seattle.

All things considered, the conversation could have gone much, much worse.

She is well aware that they are going to have a much longer discussion after he returns in a few weeks, but he had agreed not to ask her to wait. She, in turn, had agreed, as before, not to go to Glastonbury Grove alone, or at night. She also agrees not to approach the pool closer than necessary to place the talismans, or to test it with her own weaving - not at present, anyway.

Hawk had been her next call.

A few days later, after he has had time to consider and to consult with the Bookhouse Boys, Hawk knocks on her apartment door and agrees to her request.

* * * * * * *
When Moiraine returns to Milliways, she leaves a sealed note with Bar, addressed to Wei Wuxian.

Master Wei--

I made the trial of your talismans according to your instructions. When I activated the one at the northernmost point, glowing red energy swept inward from the circle in a wave focused on the pool at its center.

The pool absorbed it all. It vanished into the depths without a ripple, and without a trace.

Nothing else has happened. Yet.

--Moiraine Sedai

That task completed, she settles at her preferred table with tea and begins sketching something in a notebook.

Comments

[herald_ingress]

"It's really a lucky thing. I have to remind myself that not all of the Heralds - gods, not even most of them - have childhood homes like mine. Even if they had physical homes, or even castles or grand palaces, some of them didn't seem to have people who cared about them like I did."

[blue_ajah]

"And now they have their Companions, and each other," she observes.

[herald_ingress]

"That's right, absolutely. We do. You know, I sometimes wonder what things would have been like had Megwyn never found Milliways. It gives me shudders, to be honest."

[blue_ajah]

"Do not dwell on it overmuch," the Aes Sedai advises, kindly. "Considering the paths that might-have-been in addition to what is and what might be can put one under a great deal of strain."

She sounds deeply, deeply certain of this for some reason.

[herald_ingress]

“I’m sure you’re right,” she says, and she takes a sip of tea.

During this pause she realizes, as is often the case when you grow up and meet friends of your family on your own, that she knows little about Moiraine and her actual life.

“Would it be rude of me to ask you - for my entire life, I’ve known you as an ally and friend, someone to go to should anything happen here. But I don’t even know if you have a family.”

Tom’s not so great with mentioning those details, and Door- well, she’s quiet more often than not on the topic of Moiraine.

[blue_ajah]

"I do not see it as rude," Moiraine assures her.

"I am no longer close with those in my family of birth, which was House Damodred, in Cairhien. I have discovered more of a family of choice through here, as it happens."

[herald_ingress]

“That certainly sounds familiar,” she replies.

“Do you have a partner or a spouse? Or children?”

[blue_ajah]

"I am not married, and I have no children," the Aes Sedai says.

She does not mention her previous marriage to Dream, nor does she speak of visions from days past, that had involved Thom Merrilin.

"I have taken up residence in Twin Peaks, however."

Does Ingress know Dale Cooper? She is not sure, and waits to see.

[herald_ingress]

Ingress does not know Dale Cooper, nor is she familiar with Twin Peaks. Her cheeks feel hot again from asking Moiraine such seemingly impertinent questions, but she’s genuinely curious.

“Oh, you’ve moved worlds, too? I’m not sure where Twin Peaks is, but I hope you love your new home.”

[blue_ajah]

"It has its peculiarities," she admits, "but I am pleased to be there all the same."

[herald_ingress]

“I’m not sure anything can be more peculiar than either Companions, the nature of London Below, or Wizarding world holiday tents,” she jokes. “But if so, please do tell.”

[blue_ajah]

"I am not sure I would say any of it is more peculiar."

Moiraine seems amused by that thought.

"Although those who are fond of the coffee there might claim it to be distinctive beyond the usual."

She curves her fingers around her teacup, as if to protect it.

"Even necromancy is not peculiar to that world alone, after all."

[herald_ingress]

She almost says, in her usual enthusiasm, “Two of my new friends are necromancers!” but then she recalls that Tom and Door have mentioned that Moiraine has a stricter view on what is good and what is evil, and that’s fine! It’s just an important thing to remember.

“I’ve found that necromancy exists many places,” she says carefully. “It exists in some form or other, for good and ill, in all three of the worlds I’ve been a part of.”

[blue_ajah]

The Aes Sedai inclines her head to Ingress.

"There is sometimes a difference between what is evil and what is forbidden," she observes.

[herald_ingress]

“I’m not sure necromancy is always either evil or forbidden in the contexts I understand. Sometimes it’s simply a tool, and like any magic - or anything humans do - it can be used for terrible things. But that isn’t necessarily the default.”

Ingress is a brave young woman. Tom would have given a much different response.

[blue_ajah]

"I have met one person here for whom that seems to be the case, as well," the Aes Sedai says.

"It is not always so. In the world where I was born, such things are the province of the Dark One, the Lord of the Grave, who sought to destroy the Wheel of Time and creation itself. But unless it is true evil, I will grant that there are sometimes differences between worlds."

[herald_ingress]

She nods in agreement and asks, “Oh yes, who have you met? It wouldn’t be a girl who wears elaborate skeletal makeup, would it?”

[blue_ajah]

She nods, smiling a little.

"Lady Ninth; Harrow. I take it that you know her?"

[herald_ingress]

“Yes, she’s one of my new friends here. Well, she might be a bit too prickly to actually use the word friend, but that’s what I’d call us.”

[blue_ajah]

"I am pleased to hear it," the Aes Sedai replies, and deliberately leaves the reason why unspoken.

"Although the source of her power is different from mine, she reminds me in some ways of certain Aes Sedai that I have known. We have had a number of interesting conversations, even working together on certain matters."

[herald_ingress]

“She knows Tom, too,” Ingress says, spewing intelligence like a snow making machine at a ski resort in the fall.

“And now both she and Wei Wuxian, that’s another of my new friends, have been to the Underside with me. I love how everyone knows everyone else here.”

[blue_ajah]

"Oh?" the Aes Sedai murmurs.

"I am not especially surprised to hear that Tom has made her acquaintance, considering. You are certainly correct that the nature of this place can lead to easily meeting others and coming to know them well."

She taps the tip of her index finger lightly against her teacup.

"I have met Wei Wuxian, as it happens, but I confess that I do not know him well, yet, although we have discussed certain solutions to what some might describe as magical problems. He is a friend of yours, then?"

[herald_ingress]

Maybe not after their current thread!

“Yes. I met him and it was like we’d known each other forever.”

The alcohol may have helped with this, but still.

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine nods.

"He is very loyal to his friends, I understand. And if you are particularly close...."

[herald_ingress]

“Well, we’re still relatively new friends, but I think we’ll be close. So long as I can keep coming here regularly.”