but i abhor the dull routine of existence (closed)

[ratiocinations]

Who: Holmes and Sprezzatura
When: 9/10 9/15 gently nudges this forward a little
Where: The school exterior
What: Trying to climb the school with rather mixed results.
Warnings: None! Will add if needed.

Comments

[ratiocinations]

[Well. If you weren’t so short.

At least Holmes is kind(?) enough to be the one walking backwards as they move out of Kin’un and down the hall.]

At your capability. So you mean you’ve usually spellwork to aid your climb.

[velluminous]

Yes. Very effective magic. I could hang from ceiling if I wished to!

[ratiocinations]

Not a spell I recall seeing in your book?

[Because of course he remembers. Now, anyway.]

[velluminous]

[ it's clear from her expression that she dislikes that he has read the book. recalls the book. ]

Written in shorthand.

[ cranes her head to look for ghosts wandering the long hallways. given his back is turned. ]

[ratiocinations]

[Yes, please watch his back as they trundle all the way to the entrance.]

Do you feel as though I’ve invaded your privacy, Ms Fairplay?

[Re: the spellbook. It wasn’t precisely an ideal situation.]

[velluminous]

—No. [ then, just as quickly: ] Well.

You did so for helping me; I have not forgotten this.

[ and even so. a wizard's arcanabula is so personable, so intimate to their character—Severine feels as though a part of her has been laid bare before him, as she often does, and the part in question is not a pretty one. Imprisonment. Feeblemind. knowing what she knows now about his person...

he will never forget what he read.
(until he deems it no longer relevant and discards it) ]

[ratiocinations]

[Yes, until then. Which very well may be never, at least as long as they’re stuck here.]

I did.

[He cannot claim that he would not have been curious, otherwise, but he still would have respected her privacy were the circumstances different. And had he the mind, at the time, to even remember to do so.]

I will not pretend I am still not intrigued by it, but you have my word: I’ll not go nosing around in it again.

[velluminous]

You are so incurious? [ this is something of a tease, or her attempt at it. of course he's being respectful by saying this. his curiosity factors in not at all. ] What woman like me drifted toward? You said before, something about unpleasant magics.

[ratiocinations]

[Oh, she must know he’s dying of curiosity.]

Indeed. And I recall you not wanting to talk about the subject.

[velluminous]

[ gaze angled down, suddenly, at the mattress ]

Yes.

I really am not knowing those spells which you read.

[ratiocinations]

[Ouuuut the front entrance, slowly, but without incident.

If she does not know those spells, it underlines all the more her intent to learn them and to use them. Most of those pages really did mean nothing to him—nor will they ever, since he is not magically inclined—but it was proof enough of her desire to become familiar with such dreadfully-named magics that it's quite obvious she's had her mind made up on the matter for a long while.]

But you do plan to. Someday.

[velluminous]

No.

[ the weather is oppressively warm for a September day. she immediately begins to sweat. ]

Not all. Not even most.

[ratiocinations]

[No? Then… she was researching not eventualities, but possibilities.]

But at least one, then.

[It is rather warm out here today, but that will not change his level of determination. They take a turn as soon as they’re out, following the walls of the school. Already, his head tilts upwards to judge at where they might begin.]

Else you’d not engage yourself in such effort.

[velluminous]

[ what a terrible state this building is in, she thinks. it will be a miracle should they make it to the top. ]

Wouldn't I? Part of Scribe's duty is to record all magical discoveries, and preserve them, no matter how grim.

[ she would, though. is the thing. with or without the Order of the Scribes. ]

[ratiocinations]

[For now, he releases the mattress. It will be easier to scout for a safe(??) spot to climb without having to lug it around.]

Indeed, but as you will recall, I did see a few of your personal notes that accompanied one of your spells.

[A subject which she declined to speak on before, and so he will not press further if she does not present him more insight on the matter. For now, anyway.]

[velluminous]

[ indeed.

she stiffens, and given reason to do so, now walks in the opposite direction from him with a soft, ] Mmn.

[ she will decline again! ]

[ratiocinations]

[So it seems.

But wringing out the truth from her is not the priority at the moment. For now, it is finding a place to climb — and the scouting begins.

It’ll be a minute or two or three or five or ten until he loops back around to her, meeting her on the other side. He’s seen only crumbling walls, shattered windows, and a lack of tall neighboring trees nearby. Sweat glistens at his brow.]

We truly could use that other spell of yours.

[velluminous]

[ she, too; her bangs, short as they are, stick to her forehead. ]

Quick work it would make. But we were knowing already this will not be easy. If top of building cannot be reached from within, why would from without be any simpler?

[ratiocinations]

I do not expect “simpler.” I simply expect at least more than one possible route up. Currently, I only perceive one. But did you find anything?

[velluminous]

[ cuts her gaze aside and up. ]

One...

[ratiocinations]

[ ???

Follows her gaze with his own. What did she find? Is it visible from here?]

[velluminous]

[ sets her thumb between her teeth. part of the building crumbling away, the interior exposed to the elements. a growth of vines and ivy woven through the rubble, and slowly feeding back to the ground in little patches.

starts to walk again, to trace the origin point ]

[ratiocinations]

[Well! He follows, his eyes tracing the building ahead. He sees only crumbling spots, but also a very green, very thick growth of ivy that weaves through the detritus and wreckage of the building itself.]

The ivy.

[velluminous]

[ the ivy. ]

What do you suppose?

[ratiocinations]

[They've not reached the origin point yet, but Holmes stops briefly to reach out and tug at a cord of ivy which clings to the walls.]

...Campsis radicans. Very... [tugs at it again] ...thick, too.

[Hm. Not ideal, but none of it seems to be.]

It may be our best option. On my side, I had seen only a few loose bricks which would act as footholds, and the rest we would need to rely on the sturdiness of old windowsills. At least this could provide a path all the way up.

[How far up does it grow?]