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]

[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?]

[velluminous]

[ far enough, it would seem, to get them most of the way. she feels a churning in her stomach. ]

Windowsills... Nyet. There will be broken glass.

[ratiocinations]

[But at least the windowsill is least likely to detach itself from the wall, though given the state of the building... maybe even that is not so certain.]

...

You are willing to try it, then? To climb up the ivy and hope it holds?

[At least they will get a good sense of its strength just a few feet up; were it to fall from a short distance, there is no inherent danger.]

[velluminous]

[ she is wary to climb at all, without the safety of, and confidence in, her own magic. there is nothing to say the building itself won't rebel against them. ]

Better than free climbing upon loose bricks. We must be... incredibly careful, either way.

[ratiocinations]

Very well. We will be.

[Without preamble, then, he is retreating to where they left the mattress and dragging it back this direction. If they've decided, then why waste time?]

[velluminous]

[ citation needed.

Severine, on the other hand, remains where she is—still her face tipped upwards, following the wending path of the ivy. there are footholds, she's sure, among the vines. and the building has collapsed in places; a spot to rest. ]

[ratiocinations]

[The sound of the mattress scraping along the ground heralds Holmes' return. Here he is, hair falling into his eyes, as he finally releases it next to Ms Fairplay.

Straightens, catching his breath.]

There, now. [Looking up, extending a hand to follow the vines as though to test at the angle, the way an artist might do so to check perspective.] If you tumble, as long as you do not twist your body unduly... [Points directly down to the mattress.] This should break your fall.

[velluminous]

[ yeah, it'll sure break something. ]

My fall? [ but she's clearly not actually hung up on this, because she moves swiftly to: ] We go slow, and test each foothold thoroughly before depending upon it. If we can go no further, we return down. If we can not go down, we endeavour for one of those openings... there, or there.

[ pointing to each ]

Where we may get through and inside.

[ratiocinations]

[All a fair assessment to him.]

Noted. And I will take the lead, if that is agreeable to you.

[velluminous]

Haaau. If it pleases you.

[ratiocinations]

[It makes sense that he goes first. He is the heaviest, and where he climbs, the sturdiness of the vines are sure to follow. Where he might fall, she would know, then, not to continue.

He walks up to the ivy, tests it. Pulls and tugs. At its base, it does seem sturdy enough.]

Pulled up by nothing but our arms at first… this will be a test of strength as much as one of courage.

[velluminous]

Ugh. [ watching him... she bends down and dusts her palms with some soil. ] Do not call it that.

[ she's had enough tests of courage with the one. besides; ] Heights do not scare me. We wizards thrive in towers.

[ratiocinations]

[This will be a innocuous test of courage, comparatively.]

It is different, is it not? Gazing out from atop a high tower, versus climbing one.

[Anyway, he starts clambering up. He is not superhuman, of course, and will not move with blazing speed, and he takes it purposefully slow at first, but... He is?? Surprisingly?? Adept at this??]