sixty-eighth labyrinth

[lord_wizard]

[Felix's tone is soft and weary as he speaks into the journal]

Should anyone wish it, I can ward against nightmares. It's a quick and simple spell, most effective if done just prior to sleep.

Send a message with your name, room number, and time you wish to retire. Or questions, if you have any. My name is Felix Harrowgate, if we are not acquainted.

[It's the least he can do, he figures]

Comments

[filtered to Felix]

[thraxios]

I suppose it's an understandable concern, considering what their experiences of the castle's magic must be: small trinkets at their whims with the knowledge that they are at a larger force's beck and call. But it is a pity.

How are you doing, Felix?

[filtered to Gideon]

[lord_wizard]

Perhaps. I don't offer it lightly. I still...have difficulty with the idea of betraying my doctrine, but there is sometimes room for exceptions.

[He sighed. What could he say, especially when most of his unease was due to the abysmal shape Ashura was in?]

Alive and whole. There doesn't seem much better to ask for at the moment.

[filtered forever]

[thraxios]

There is - and I think this is a worthy one.

[It's an altruistic offer, one he wouldn't have thought to expect from Felix had they still been in the Mirador. He hesitates a minute or two before continuing to write.]

No, I suppose not. Were you awake during the proceedings?

[lord_wizard]

No. [Though he doesn't sound all that thankful about that fact]

[thraxios]

Nor was I.

[And he can hear that Felix sounds none too pleased with how things went. His reply is fairly neutral for that reason.]

From what I've heard, it was thoroughly unpleasant.

[lord_wizard]

[Maybe too neutral]

Unpleasant?

[thraxios]

[Uh-oh. He knows that tone.]

Would you characterize it otherwise?

[lord_wizard]

[There's a short, tense silence while he presses a hand to his forehead.]

No. I only wish you were not always so coldly objective about everything.

[thraxios]

[Gideon bristles at that characterization of his words. After a few moments, he writes back.]

Considering I spent the duration unawares, it'd be rather melodramatic of me to rend my garments over it.

[lord_wizard]

[Another pause before he replies]

No, that's for me to do, it seems.

[thraxios]

Oh?

[lord_wizard]

[He sighs heavily] Nearly every time the castle does something like this we are deprived of our magic and thus any chance I might usually have to be of any help whatsoever. Even then I've never been entirely excluded until shortly after you arrive, but it does little to spare my feelings when Ashura is in ribbons and another friend that is dead.

[thraxios]

[His hand is motionless for some time before, feeling strangely hesitant, he writes back.]

You have my condolences, Felix.

[lord_wizard]

[He suspects Gideon doesn't entirely mean it, at least in regards to Ashura, but he decides not to say so]

And you have my appreciation.

[thraxios]

[Gideon feels for Felix without reservation; just don't ask about his concern for Ashura's welfare outside that context. >>]

Do you need anything?

[lord_wizard]

[The few things he can think of are not productive to his well-being - or at least, probably worse than running himself ragged with worry]

Just some sleep.