Portal Maintenance [For Katsuya]

[ixis]

This is a long time overdue.

Ixis Naugus has no conventional means to reach the young man because phones are evil. And Verity is presently not on hand to pester her into doing it for him. Although he does have some questions regarding that. The wizard's not exactly the one to go to for relationship advice, but he's observant regardless.

So he figures if he is to find Katsuya, he will likely appear sometime around the portal the Ixis is meant to examine! And thankfully, Naugus remembers where it's located. So the mage loiters there, having brought some more of his roomie's baked goodies to bide his time with. It's some kind of toffee! Nice and crunchy.

Comments

[ixis]

"The only type of validation I need is self. It must be a desperate sort of life, not being able to generate any on your own. No wonder you're so active in your Nexus wheeling and dealing! Have to keep priming the pumps for that affirmation."

The mage chortles as he leans on his staff, the end of his tail curling around the base of it. "This really is a cause for projection with you, isn't it, Schön? You can't fathom a simple favour without stipulations or strings? No payments or debt? I would gladly take this vow if it was enough to quiet you!"

His claw moves to cover his heart as he clearly states, "I, Ixis Naugus, master of the elements and sorcerer supreme, do solemnly swear that if there is hidden terms or unfulfilled business OR expected payment that I have not expressed to one Katsuya Suou; if there is any repayment or debt expected on my part now or in the future for the conjuration and installation of one ward, I do rightfully surrender the chaos emerald affixed upon my staff to one Schön, surname unknown."

[sumarusfinest]

Well, it seems like some good is going to come from this. Ixis has put up a magical item as collateral that he wasn't going to take anything from Katsuya for this. Not...that the officer was worried he would. He trusts Verity's house mate as much as one can ever trust a magi.

Farther than one can throw them? But who? Katsuya can throw most anything pretty far. Such a strange saying. Can one apply the penal code to magi? This isn't exactly his jurisdiction, so is this legally binding?

Once again, officer Suou is thinking much too hard about probably not the most important point of the current events.

"Thank you, Naugus." Katsuya gives a hopeful glance Schon's way. Would that be enough to satisfy the other? "Is that sufficient?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Once Naugus makes his vow, Schön declares, "witnessed." The world around them seems to throb with the word, as though they stood within a massive heart which gave a single beat. For just a moment, Schön seems somehow other, and the cane in his hand a great staff. But the vision passes, if it had ever been to begin with.

"That does begin to soothe ruffled feathers, so to speak. Still, Sergeant Suou, I would be grateful for some small warning before something is done to the portal, if that would not be an undue hardship?"

[ixis]

Naugus, up to now all smug smiles and self-assured pride, falters at that unusual pulse. He may not know the precise mechanics behind what caused it, or the reason for that faint flicker of Schön's being, but he can make some reasonable guesses. Invocation of True words and promises are not something he dabbles in often because, well.

And even if he has no intention of going back on his word, to know that his glib response now has some heft to it, that he could be bereft of the item that gave him more than these two will ever know...What if Schön tries to weasel this around, tries to set up circumstances where Ixis Naugus breaks his promise and the artifact ends up in the fae man's possession?

This frantic line of thought only took seconds to pass through his mind, but it's enough to make a very light sweat appear on Naugus' brow. He dabs at it with the hem of his cape and tries to look neutral.

[sumarusfinest]

"Of course. I would have today even, had I been more aware. I will do so in the future." He's not really in the position to refuse Schon much of anything, but he would even without such bindings.

It's only polite, after all.

"There now." Katsuya has seen Schon look Other before, once. He has no doubt that there was some ritual or point to the whole agreement that just took place, for even Helios stirred within him at the pulse that rippled through the area. He looks ixis' way with a grateful smile.

"I really do appreciate your generosity in such a matter. It will make my work all the easier to know when the door is being used. And of the other matter..." This he leaves vague because he really doesn't want the conversation to come full circle right now. not with both of them here and at each other's throats. "I will take your advice and think carefully."

See? Everything ended up going well, after all. He has no idea.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Schön gives Naugus a thin smile as he dabs, before turning back to receive Katsuya's answer. "Thank you, Sergeant Suou. Do keep in touch." While he's tempted to drop some remark about how he'd hate to see his work damaged as a result of someone's careless spellcraft, but he reins himself in.

He can come back and examine the ward to learn more of Naugus' particular style later.

[ixis]

Naugus harrumphs as his tail switches quick and angry. "Yes, well," he says to Katsuya regarding the taking of advice, "do follow up on it. That's all I ask of you. Nothing's final until the word is said." You know, like this exchange that just happened here.

With one last sneering look towards Schön, the wizard concludes, "Now if you'll excuse me..." before he vanishes in a heavy plume of smoke. Guess it's just these two now while Naugus goes and has a panic attack attends to more pressing affairs.