pc; fai

[shouldbe]

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[partymagician]

Of course I do!

[ He gives Wave a grin before he turns over to the console, picking out a song.

Keeping up with the theme, Fai picks one that sounds fast. ]

[shouldbe]

[oh no, oh no, oh no no no song starts...

.........honestly after about the first 20 seconds, Wave's just. Standing there.]

Why do they just keep getting worse?!

[But eventually they'll have DDR'd themselves out, whether that's because they finally figured out how to pick songs that aren't going to completely destroy them or they just gave up, who knows. At any rate it's time for some general hanging out time! How's Fai feel about heading out into the sun?]

That was all right, but I don't think I'll be going back for another round any time soon.

[partymagician]

[ The sun is nice, and Fai stretches out his arms when they step out into it. ]

I don't think so either. I'm starting to wonder if games like that are really for me.

[ He much prefers board games or card games. There aren't any weird machines they have to step on. ]

But this little retreat is good for trying new things, if nothing else, so I don't regret playing.

[shouldbe]

[Yessssss, good, Wave thrives in the sunshine, turning her face up to the light.]

You're not wrong... though I can't help but wish we could go a little further out. I'm having a good time here at the resort, but I'm starting to feel a little stir-crazy sometimes.

[partymagician]

So am I. It's too bad I can't offer to whisk you away to a little town around here.

[ He totally would otherwise. It'd be nice to do some exploring. ]

[shouldbe]

[--oh?]

You can do that sort of thing?

[partymagician]

I do know some transportation magic, yes.

[ He smiles. ]

I don't use it often, though. It's a complicated spell.

[shouldbe]

How complicated?

[It's not immediate, but the question still slips out of her before she has a chance to stop herself. It's the sort of question maybe she shouldn't ask, the sort of question that's too intrusive, but it's already been asked, so all she can really do is offer some sort of rationale:] I've... I was looking for a way to leave my world for a long time before all this. The guy who promised to help me never managed it.

[partymagician]

[ Ah... Fai considers her for a long moment, his smile fading from his face as he gives her question the serious thought that it deserves. ]

I've done it before. I should have more than enough magic to send you somewhere, but you need to be absolutely sure about your decision.

[shouldbe]

[If he hasn't realized it already, Wave's face gives away a lot of what she's thinking. In this instance, he'll see the moment she realizes what he's saying--is that an offer...?--followed by the surprise that hits her like a brick wall, then a softening of her expression to a little soft smile, even as her gaze drifts away from him for a moment. Finally, she brings her eyes back to him, shaking her head.]

That wasn't why I was asking. Momo already told me we don't have to go back if we don't want to.

I just wanted to know how long Dusk had been lying to me about not being able to do it.

[partymagician]

Ah.

[ He smiles, more real than the smiles she's usually seen from him. ]

It's hard to say. Most magic users will have their magic completely wiped out by sending themselves or someone else to another world. That's why it's so complicated. It uses up a significant portion of one's reserves.

[ But Fai? He'd be fine. ]

[shouldbe]

So it isn't so much the spell as it is the magic needed to power it? [Wave considers it.] I don't think that part would have been as much of an issue; when they're casting big spells, Veloi mages in Coriolis can tap into the power of the trees for more raw energy.

[partymagician]

The power of trees…

[ As a wizard, that intrigues him. But he knows now is not the time for that. ]

It seems like they didn’t want you to leave, in that case.

[shouldbe]

[Her expression goes flat, lips pressing together into a tight line.] Yeah. It took me a while to figure it out, but I'd guessed that was the case.

The joke's on him now, though.

[partymagician]

[ He smiles. ]

You’re free to do as you please now.

[ While he doesn’t know the reason why she wanted to leave her world or why she was trapped, he’s still happy that she’ll get what she wants. ]

Do you know where you’ll go?

[shouldbe]

Yeah. I am.

[It still hasn't lost its novelty, that knowledge; just like every other time, it fills her with a sense of buoyancy and warmth, and it might be obvious to Fai in that moment that even though Wave's smiles are by and large genuine, they're often just surface-level. But knowing she can do what she wants now? It'll be a long time before that stops giving her that rush.]

I haven't decided what I'll do yet. There are a few places I visited before that I could go back to, but I wouldn't mind going someplace new, either. I like going to new places and seeing new things.

[partymagician]

Seeing new things and meeting new people has been a bright spot of traveling across worlds, to tell you the truth. I’d be happy to give you names of places, should you be able to wander about.

[ He smiles, the warmth in his eyes matching the warmth reflected in her smile. Traveling really has been a benefit to him despite everything else about it that he can’t help but be excited for her. ]

[shouldbe]

I'd like that. A lot, actually.

What about you? What are you planning to do once everything's over here?

[partymagician]

I haven’t decided yet.

[ He smiles wearily. ]

I travel with companions, but I’d prefer to leave them be, since that’s what best for them.

[ With his role in everything… he should step back. It really is for the best. ]

[shouldbe]

[Hey, does it feel like someone just walked over Fai's grave? Because he's just crossed into dangerous territory. Wave's smile fades from her face, an eyebrow lifting as she looks at him.]

Is that really what's best for them, or is that what you've decided is best for them?

[partymagician]

[ ...Damn.

He's been called out, hasn't he? He looks at Wave with surprise before finally letting out a sigh. ]

No, you're right. It's what I've decided is best for them.

[ The theme this week is honesty and he's tired, so he decides to expand upon that. ]

I tend to bring trouble to the people I'm closest to. I'm worried that my involvement in their lives will only bring them pain.

[ It's why he was so hesitant to accept his own feelings for Kaeya too. Everything tangles up together into this mass of connections that he's terrified to have. ]

[shouldbe]

[It's her secret superpower uwu]

So you're choosing the brand of selfishness that spares yourself having to feel guilty later if something does happen.

[It's sharp, but her voice isn't intentionally harsh. It's just a fact, the way she sees it.]

From someone who's been on the other side of that situation? I'd take whatever pain came from it. I'd make that choice a hundred times over.

[partymagician]

Is it really worth it? I'm cursed. I'll cause anyone who gets too close to go insane.

[ He clenches his fists. That's the ugly truth of it, and the way Fai bites his bottom lip betrays his conviction. He really, really believes it to be true. ]

[shouldbe]

[She opens her mouth to respond, but Wave stops herself before she says anything, noting the way his fists are clenched, the way he's biting his lip. He believes it, and she believes him, but...]

Who told you that? Maybe you should ask yourself what they had to gain if you thought that was true.

[partymagician]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't know what any of them would have had to gain by that point.