mosaic_archive | Kuja's Desert Palace, for Telrim and Regulus

Regulus tries to hide his reactions behind what remains of his arrogance, still having some trouble concentrating. The talk of multiple universes makes no sense, but he tries to puzzle the rest out despite that. "So, it was an accident..."

"Your arrival in the Nexus? It could have been, Mikoto says. "I have also heard the theory that the place intentionally pulls in people who for one reason or another need to leave their world of origin."

Regulus has to admit, at least to himself, that that would fit... and then it lets him put that talk of 'dimensions' into perspective. He'd... left the whole world? And he had a feeling they didn't just mean the Wizarding World, but all of it... not that he cared much for the muggle side of things.

"It certainly picks up some interesting people." He's doing well for someone who was almost dead an hour ago. Telrim has to give him that. But given his background, it's no surprise he knows about not showing weakness.

She gives him a minute to start digesting all of that, then cracks a smile that might seem jarring after her serious attitude. She'll blame her concern for that if need be. "The good news is, you're going to be fine... though we probably don't have to tell you that you need to take it easy for a while."

Which means, for preference, no exerting himself with unnecessary escape attempts or anything like that.

It's five words that end up getting to him in the end. 'You're going to be fine.' Something he'd completely given up on the moment he started to seriously question things. One didn't just leave, not when they were in as deep as he was. He'd had no chance of survival, no hope except for revenge, and the constant fear of being found out before he could manage even that.

And now, well.. he was going to be fine. One thing he hadn't planned on. And he isn't sure if he's going to laugh or cry, and finds himself unable to respond as he tries desperately not to break down and do either.

And it's that look that gets to Mikoto, though it looks so out of place to her on someone with black hair instead of silver. She remembers seeing Kuja like that at times, and how it would become worse if allowed to. And before she even realizes she's doing it she sits on the edge of the bed.

"You need to rest. Healing spells are for physical injury, not exhaustion." Her tone was as clinical and calm as ever. "You still need to recover. I can not promise it will help the situation to make more sense, but it will help with adjusting to it."

The look on his face surprises Telrim - that odd tension between shock and relief. She falls silent, expression softening at his distress. Though she still finds Mikoto's response very interesting...

You were right, says Natasha in their mind. Poor kid. Who knows what he's been through?

We'll try to find out, in time. Outwardly, she looks to Mikoto. "He's regenerated a lot of blood. Should he eat?"

Mikoto nods. "That would be for the best. I will see if Kuja left anything in stasis." If not, she considers contacting the Black Mages. Most used the door to their village, but Vivi at least should have a PINPoint.

The mention of healing spells seems to have calmed Regulus a bit. Magic is at least something normal, from his perspective, among all this talk of other worlds... and what happens next just makes him stare.

Mikoto walks back over to the silver wall panel, which after a few taps from her displays more text in Terran... She frowns slightly and looks puzzled. "Only a few items of fruit in storage. That is unusual. He would have restocked, unless he planned not to return. And that contradicts the other evidence." A section of the wall turns translucent, appearing to display an image of a pear. Them Mikoto reaches through the wall and removes the pear, examining it. "At least the stasis seems to have held."

"Hmm." Telrim shoots a glance at Regulus and stifles a chuckle. It looks like the Terran blend of technology and magic is as perplexing to the young wizard as it is to her.

"It'll do for a start, anyway. But you're going to need more. And, uh..." She does half-smile at poor Regulus then. "Some clothes as well, unless Kuja was better stocked in that department."

Regulus has to fight a blush at the mention of clothing. He's well aware he's nude under that blanket. He's also fairly certain they knew it, and has been avoiding the topic. As Mikoto offers him the pear and he reaches to take it, he notices something that completely takes his mind off his lack of clothing for a moment. The Dark Mark looked... faded. Maybe it was the lighting. He forces himself not to stare, not wanting to draw attention to it. Though that makes him think... they haven't mentioned it yet, and yet they were talking about magic. It did lend some credence to the story that they weren't in the same world any more. Surely they would have recognized it otherwise. Unless this was all a trap... but then they'd have no reason not to leave him to the Inferi...

Mikoto, for her part, seems to pause for a moment at the thought of Regulus in Kuja's clothes. She'd never thought it strange at all, when he was around. But in the years later she's heard comments that indicated her brother's fashion sense was... unique by Gaian standards. "I am not sure if Kuja's clothes would fit him," she says and, a very rare thing, she almost looks amused. Then again, the ruined garment was some kind of robe... She walks to a section of wood paneling bordered by silvery metal, touching the metal to cause the panels to slide back and allow access to a walk-in closet.

"I can get some more, but it'd take a little while to find anything close to his old clothes." Telrim follows a little way, to get a look at the closet's contents, though her positioning just 'happens' to keep Regulus almost constantly in her field of vision. Ensuring the pear keeps him safely occupied. "Just as long as he has something to wear now..."

Regulus has gone rather quiet for now. He's managed to sit up enough to eat the pear, and still feels a bit stunned that he's sitting here eating a pear when a good part of his mind still insists he should be dead. The important thing was to try to decide what to do now. Which wasn't easy, as he'd done what he could to put his affairs in order, since he didn't expect to survive.

The reactions of most, when faced with evidence of Kuja's tastes in clothing, are to question how anyone could seriously wear things like that in public. Mikoto tries to find something reasonably practical amid garments that look like they could have belonged to a crossdressing Vegas stripper. She wonders for half a second if some of the less flamboyant skirts might fit her in a few years, before shoving them to the side... and going pale and still.

There's an outfit here, discarded in the corner almost as if to hide it. Armor, white fabric, torn and dented. A leaf is next to it, long since dried. Mikoto stares for a moment before pulling herself together and trying to find a robe or dressing gown that at least won't be too revealing until they can find some more suitable clothes for Regulus. "The Nexus Mall is one possibility," she says, voice carefully flat again, though with the hint that the flatness is a very thin veneer this time. "Clothes could have been fabricated or repaired on Terra, but I do not know if this location had the systems for that. It would have been redundant at the time. I could check the computer."

"Um... interesting wardrobe." Telrim can feel Natasha's startled, mildly horrified response and mirrors it with the appropriate expression. Toned down a bit, so as not to risk offending. The Yeerk's assessment is less culturally influenced and mostly just sceptical about the practicality of half the items in there. Although visually they really are quite interesting.

Telrim catches her sudden stillness and turns to look at her properly, frowning. "Right. If not, I'll see what I can find in the Nexus. Supply runs are what I do best, after all..."

She hesitates, lowers her voice. "Mikoto? Are you OK?"

Mikoto has managed to find a dressing gown that might not be too painful to look at in one way or another. It's reasonably concealing, in a pale blue silky fabric covered with embroidered silver dragons. "Kuja had unusual tastes in many things."

She makes a gesture towards the armor in the corner, without looking at it. "One of his favorite outfits. He was wearing it... the last time he returned to Terra. I was not expecting to see it. He died shortly afterward. Someone must have brought it back here." Between that, and the issue with the fruit, Mikoto suspects Zidane has hidden something from her about events after Kuja's death...

"I got the impression you were the only one who knew about this place. The... only one living, that is."

Despite her slightly clueless, worried tone, she's watching to make sure she doesn't push too far. Mikoto so rarely shows emotion: Telrim has no idea where her boundaries might be, and has no wish to cross them yet.

"Kuja had prisoners here once. Zidane and some of his friends. The outer wards and security when I had arrived had been set to allow access only to a Terran Genome who could use magic, and Kuja mentioned once that Zidane was too stupid to use magic. I would be the only one remaining who could have gained access, other than by PINPoint or bypassing the system in some way."

Regulus is starting to wonder if everything is all right in there. And just what he's supposed to do with the pear core.

Mikoto, after a pause, finally says the rest of what she's trying not to think too much about after seeing the armor. "Zidane was the one who said Kuja was dead. He was the last one to see him. And he is a thief. Perhaps he could have gained access."

"Maybe that's it," Telrim says, not sounding as if she fully believes so. She glances back at Regulus, remembering him, and gives him another slight smile.

"We might have found something for you," she tells him, before returning her attention to Mikoto. Whether the Yeerk wants to voice all of her suspicions is a bit of a moot point: this isn't the time to do so.

Still, intriguing to wonder what's really going on here. Or did go on, all that time ago.

"I, uh. Didn't realise you weren't there when Kuja died," she says quietly. "Sorry."

Mikoto thinks it unlikely as well, but the other possibility is too painful to think about, and she's completely refusing to consider it. "I was outside. I had been left in the Mage's village, and led a rescue group to the Iifa Tree when I sensed Kuja and Zidane were there. Zidane's friends escaped the collapsing Tree, but Zidane ran back to try to get to Kuja. Zidane was missing for nearly three years afterward." And he had just said Kuja was gone. He didn't say when. What if they were here for those three years? Why wouldn't she have been told?

She'll go over to the bed and leave the dressing gown next to Regulus. "It is likely to be too long, but it will at least be something to cover yourself with until we can find other clothes."

Regulus manages a trace of a smile. "Thank you. If I hadn't lost my wand I could have tried to repair my clothes, but..." Yes, he is trying to sound out just where his wand is.

"No, you couldn't. You have to rest, remember?" Telrim keeps her tone cheerful, her amusement private, and glances at Mikoto. If Telling him they have it might inspire some foolish attempts to get it back; not telling him so might make him desperate with fear.

But lying about it would run counter to her own cover, so she adds, "But maybe when we know you won't pass out trying to use it..."

Mikoto has regained her composure, shutting the thoughts away like someone else might shut a door... at least for now. She nods in agreement with Telrim on that matter. "I will contact Vivi and see if he can bring a suitable lunch, and then I think it would be best if you sleep." And while Regulus is asleep they can decide what to do about food and clothing, and all the dust.

Well, at least his wand isn't back in that cave. That's a relief. And he knows they're right about needing to rest, too, though he doesn't show it. Instead they just get the sort of arrogant pout to be expected of a spoiled child who has been told they have to stay in bed. "Very well." Just because he knows he'd collapse if he tried to get up doesn't mean he has to be happy about that... even if he is relieved that he's not a new addition to the inferi in the cave by now.

And again, there's the faintest flicker of amusement from Mikoto, as if that display of stubborn arrogance doesn't fool her in the least. Not that she plans to say anything about it, any more than she would have to Kuja.

Telrim blinks at him, then relaxes and settles back on her heels. Her host isn’t much better versed in dealing with young humans than the Yeerk herself is. “Ah... by the way. This is Mikoto, and I’m Natasha.”

She wonders idly if that’s how Mikoto would prefer to be addressed, and just how much information Regulus will volunteer of his own accord. Though they’re approaching the stage when she can get more information by speaking with the two separately. She might have complained about referring to Regulus as a ‘subject’, but the Yeerk has no problem actually treating people as such. It’s not as if they’re Yeerks.

Mikoto gives a slight nod, typing up a message to be delivered to Vivi's PINPoint.

He thinks he should have introduced himself earlier. His mother would have scolded for such poor manners. But he's used to meetings where others make introductions for him, or where he's already known. "Regulus Black." As soon as he says it he wonders if he shouldn't have mentioned his family's name. They couldn't know, they couldn't ever find out. It would kill them, both figuratively and literally. The pear core has been left on an endtable. He isn't sure what else to do with it. He isn't sure what to do at all.

"I sent Vivi the same arrival coordinates we used," Mikoto says to Telrim. It's mostly just a soft warning not to stand in that particular spot in the room for when the young Black Mage arrives. And then she looks to Regulus. "Meeting you has been interesting, so far, Regulus Black."

"Mmm. Nice to meet you." Telrim gives him a nod, though her smile's a bit faint. "Under the circumstances, that is."

She moves clear of the arrivals spot, wondering who, exactly, is going to materialise there. Mikoto hasn't mentioned this Vivi before today, but clearly she trusts them somewhat.

Telrim pulls the chair away from the desk and closer to the bed, brushing dust off before she sits down. She hunches forward a bit, resting her arms on her knees and fixing her gaze on Regulus. "You were in a terrible state when Mikoto found you. Do you remember what happened to you?"

The question makes Regulus go slightly pale, and he almost wishes he hadn't eaten that pear. He considers whether he should say. After all, if this really were some elaborate trick... He really didn't see how it could be, though. And as long as he didn't mention just where, or what he was doing there... "Unfortunately, yes. I was attacked by Inferi. I... really don't feel like discussing it."

And then there's a faint pop of displaced air and a very odd looking fellow with a couple of large picnic baskets appears in the room. "Mikoto..? I brought food, like you asked. Where have you been? We were worried when you left. W-were you here? Why here, Mikoto? I... I know where this is..."

Regulus can't help but stare. He has no idea what the creature is, though it seems harmless enough. It almost makes him think of some kind of large doll. Was this the 'Vivi' that Mikoto had mentioned? What a comical looking thing. It seems intelligent. Maybe it was this world's version of a house elf, if all that other world stuff was true...

"That's OK," Telrim says reassuringly. "You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready to."

She looks up then, eyes widening slightly as she takes in the newcomer's appearance. And their concern. She stands up, giving the creature - Vivi - a polite nod of greeting.

"I was exploring," is Mikoto's calm response to the young Mage, as she helps him with the baskets and unpacks the food he's brought. It seemed the Mages were sticking with vegetarianism, but there was cheese and milk at least.

"You're bigger," Vivi notes, unpacking more fresh fruit, vegetables, some of Mr. 44's vanilla cakes. He dusts off surfaces with a gloved hand as he looks for places to set things.

"It has been two years for me," Mikoto says, discovering that the Mages must still be trading with the Nexus to have found containers that didn't spill milk or tomato soup all over the inside of a picnic basket.

"Why here?" the Mage repeats, having also brought dishes that are being removed from the last basket.

"Vivi, I would like you to meet Regulus Black, and Natasha. I found Regulus injured in the Nexus, and this seemed the best place to bring him to recover."

"You could have brought him to our village. You're still welcome there, Mikoto."

"Your village is still limited to Gaian technology."

Regulus listens to the conversation, and gives Vivi a wave from the bed. Whatever he was, he looked about the size of a second or third-year student, but the proportions seemed different from a human's. Not that it was easy to tell in the clothes the strange boy was wearing. He looked like a walking laundry accident... Regulus has always been rather fascinated by non-humans.

((eek, that got a bit long... will try not to do that again))

Telrim moves to help with the unpacking a bit: she's done that kind of task often enough to move around the other two without getting in the way. She does it almost as smoothly as Mikoto evades the real questions being asked.

"Coming here did let her heal him very quickly," she chips in, supporting the Genome's justification for now. "Is there somewhere to store all of this?"

Mikoto nods, as Vivi fixes up a tray for Regulus. "I can place the rest in storage." Which will give her time to listen. Vivi is very nonthreatening for all of how he looks, and Mikoto had noticed the flaw in Regulus's plans when reading earlier - it would have been much more possible to survive the cave if he had made the house elf drink the potion. She is guessing that Regulus will talk to Vivi much more easily than to either her or Telrim.

And Regulus hasn't even bothered to try to hide his curiosity, especially when the little Mage casts Float on the tray to bring it over to the bed. Wandless, nonvocal magic use just reminds him even further of house elves, even if Vivi looks nothing like one.

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