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Post by 42zombies on Jun 14, 2010 16:57:18 GMT -5
The House of Blue Leaves, antique that it was, was an impressive old inn. Its oriental design and complex wood-carvings could astound even the harshest critic.
But Eddward's visitor wasn't there to admire the artwork. Instead, he stood in the room patiently, looking down at a coloring book strewn out on a coffee table. It had been colored chaotically, but almost forcibly so. The man picked it up and flipped through the pages curiously.
He hadn't told Eddward that he would be there; he had just entered the room, not knowing if he would be there.
Not knowing. The 'not knowing' was starting, then. No matter. The man knew that he only had to wait for Eddward to return, and then the two would talk.
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 14, 2010 17:39:08 GMT -5
Lucky for him, which was rare for him to actually need it, Eddward was exhausted. He had spent most of the day with Crow and Gantz and Masahiro, trying desperately to figure out effective plans of action, and the fruitless endeavor had tuckered him out. It was just after dusk, but he bid his companions and family good night and decided to turn in early.
Socked feet padded across the thatched floor lethargically as he made his way down the hall, yawning and rubbing his eyes. As he slid the thin door open, he was looking forward to collapsing in bed right then and there.
But at the sound of pages turning slowly, he looked up and knew that would have to wait.
Eddward’s heart stopped very briefly as he spotted the Wizard on the other side of the room, bathed in the eerie blue glow from the moonlight cascading through the petals above. His throat dry all of the sudden, he swallowed, and took a deep breath.
Okay… okay.
This was…alright. A chance to speak with himself, one-on-one, now that he had the courage to do so and without the brash words of his passionate, yet sometimes thick-headed companions getting in the way.
Hearing the droll noises of those behind him in the main living room, Eddward let them be and stepped inside, slowly sliding the door closed behind him, and turned to face the Wizard.
He breathed in deeply several times, trying to get words out, but unsure exactly of what to say. “…yes?”
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 14, 2010 17:59:24 GMT -5
"Eddward." The Wizard greeted, puting the coloring book down as politely as he could. "It is... nice to see you."
There was something strange about the Wizard's tone. It was the way a father spoke to his son after they had spent twenty years apart and was only now trying to be casual. That was what it was: an awkward attempt at being casual.
"I felt that, you of all people, deserved... some forwarning." The Wizard said, trying to find the right words. "An event of momentous occasion is on the horizon, and I'm not sure what it is. It is either tied to my invasion of the Prime World or some unrelated event."
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 14, 2010 20:31:36 GMT -5
Eddward was, to say the least, taken aback by the Wizard's tone, faltering any attempt to steel his nerves. Nice to see... well. This hint of intimacy was... comforting.
"How... how considerate of you," he blinked, truthfully meaning that.
He considered this information, coming back up to the Wizard at the mention of his invasion. He took a few steps forward. "...are you sure there's nothing I could say to stop you from this invasion? Anything at all?"
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 15, 2010 16:21:24 GMT -5
The Wizard was silent for a moment. "It is... complicated. I am set in my ways, Eddward; nobody would be able to dissuade me."
Saying nothing, the Wizard stood there with his other self. Then, the Wizard coughed politely. It wasn't a cough to clear the throat, as the Wizard did not have a throat to clear; it was simply a cough that was made to confirm its maker's existance.
"I... apologize for Desmond's attack." He said. "I can't help but feel that it was my fault, in a way."
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 15, 2010 21:47:43 GMT -5
Double D let out a long, cleansing sigh. "Yes, in a way. Just as in a way his motives were justified, as extreme as the methods he used were."
A long pause before his gaze came back up.
"Even so... we endured. We had some help getting the area evacuated in time, thankfully. Most people returned after the conflict cooled down, but... the villagers here have been good to us." He glanced around their surroundings, smiling. "It's been a lovely change of scenery that I personally am taking a liking to. Much more organic then steel buildings."
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 16, 2010 21:21:10 GMT -5
The Wizard seemed confused. "Justified? Desmond attacked you without being provoked. I was merely apologizing for..."
He cut himself short. There was something he wasn't saying.
"No... no, nobody's actions can be justified, Eddward. You need to learn that before you make a mistake."
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 17, 2010 1:16:11 GMT -5
Double D's gaze snapped up at that. But Desmond had been another victim of the Wizard's poison... of the...
When a thought crossed him, he glared lightly at the Wizard, crossing his arms. "Really. If that's true, than I suppose I can't blame my companions' hatred for you. You seemed quite willing to justify YOUR actions, which only ended up falling on deaf ears. I suppose you're right about that."
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 17, 2010 7:31:01 GMT -5
The Wizard paused for a moment. "I... my actions are different; they are for a greater good," he explained. "They need no real justification so long as they work out in the end."
Another pause. "May I... see her?"
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 17, 2010 18:11:08 GMT -5
"Her...?" It didn't take long for him to realize what he meant. ".....wait here."
Double D left quietly, and came back soon after with the cooing semi-toddler in his arms, her own little arms wrapped around his neck for security and her head resting tiredly on his shoulder. A small adjustment coaxed her to sit up, and she turned to her father's guest, whom she hadn't ever remember meeting.
"Marion... say hello to your father's.. friend."
"...'ello."
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 17, 2010 19:19:17 GMT -5
The Wizard stared at Marion for a few moments before he held out his hand to the child.
"Children are difficult, Eddward. Keep them under constant watch. Don't let the world corrupt them."
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 18, 2010 0:32:29 GMT -5
Marion blinked a few times, looking between the Wizard and his hand, before taking it in a light handshake, giggling a little.
"...If Desmond was right about anything..." Double D spoke softly, smiling warmly at his cheerful daughter. "...it's that nothing is more sacred, or beautiful, than the innocence of a child." He held her close and nuzzled her, to which she nuzzled back. "...I do my very best for her. Nothing less."
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 18, 2010 9:04:12 GMT -5
"He was right, I suppose; enjoy it while you can. In ten years or so it will vanish without a trace." The Wizard acknowledged. "I should have done more for my own children..."
There was that silence again; the Wizard wasn't saying something.
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Post by nintendonut1 on Jun 18, 2010 15:14:58 GMT -5
As Marion continued to nuzzle his chest, Eddward's gaze came up slowly back to the Wizard.
He had never mentioned... children before.
"...I understand..." he croaked, clearing his stale throat and continuing. "...that it must be difficult... but... I would like to hear of the life you had before... the Nightmare happened."
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Post by 42zombies on Jun 21, 2010 16:25:02 GMT -5
The Wizard chuckled. "I told you almost everything when you came to visit, Eddward. It was nothing out of the ordinary. Aside from being a psychic, my life was normal. It wasn't the late-night drama that you live.
"I was hardly older than you are now when... it happened." The Wizard confessed. "I had only just entered into my relationship with Yolanda. We had... had difficulties, I suppose you could say, with her ex-boyfriend, but that eventually cleared itself up. And I had friends outside Peach Creek; mostly Psychonauts, but there were a few more."
The Wizard smiled. "I had adventures; I foiled criminals and psychic terrorists. Kevin-- the one in our world-- was a Psychonaut, as well. It was because of a chunk of Psitanium that had been hidden in our sewers."
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