.:Private Conversations between Al Haitham & Anaxagoras:.

[anaxagoreia]

here

Comments

week 0, post-trial

[anaxagoreia]

[ What a damn day.

But, Anaxagoras knows that even with everything seemingly settled, matters may go into motion once more. He can't sit still.

So, he heads to the library.

He's grabbed some books, and now has a little tower of them. He's heading over to the table...when he puts them down with a 'thump' does he see anyone there? ]

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham does look up briefly from where he's reviewing his notes from the past week, including his Puppet Profiles. He spares a glance to read the spines of what books Anaxa has brought along.]

[anaxagoreia]

[ The books Anaxagoras managed to grab were ones centered around subjects of magic, but also random topics about supernatural elements or whatnot (fiction genre, likely) - perhaps just out of curiosity or to refresh his memory on the feel of certain vibes. Or just enhance his knowledge. ]

Studying as well?

[justscribing]

The urgency of our situation hasn't lessened. Given what some of us have already discovered, it's worth seeing if this event has changed any of the information we have access to.

[He slips a couple of the books out of the stack.]

[anaxagoreia]

...Which of course, may open up new paths to us by virtue of having that knowledge at all, hm?

[ In any different kind of situation perhaps the idea may seem naive.

But at this point? It's certainly not a foolish one; far beyond it. He's quiet when he's flipping through some pages himself, having grabbed one right out to immediately set to focus on without hesitation. ]

[justscribing]

More knowledge opens up opportunities that couldn't be perceived before. We already know of one path that exists outside of our reach. [Where the puppets run off to.] The question is how to find the door, not whether it exists.

[anaxagoreia]

And the path we tread to it will simply be our own.

[ He should not be disappointed, but people are people. Anaxagoras even knows his own situation was similar and yet look at what they're being put through. ]

As expected, perhaps. Though, I would have liked not to be certain that we'd be slinging through disappointing behavior.

WK2 - Tuesday

[justscribing]

[We start in media res: two scholars, one volunteer sheet, and and a very important study of removing the animals from their enclosures.

Once the animals are let free, see, they run wild as any creature would be expected to. But the moment both of them look away, suddenly the animal is back in the tanks and they have to circle back around to get it out again. Only for them to teleport again. A pattern has to be established with repetition, so this goes on for some time.

Alhaitham stares down an iguana that had no concept of the freedom it just lost.] Which do you think is more likely: these exist as part of the scenery, or they're equally unfortunate animals sucked into the place the same way we were?

[anaxagoreia]

[ Anaxagoras watches as the creatures are suddenly returned in their tanks in the blink of an eye. Teleportation...

...Is that really what's happening here, though? Anaxagoras is silent throughout the entirety of Alhaitham's comment - an easy enough feat, all things considered - and his eyebrows even furrow as he seems to consider this. ]

The former. The likelihood of them being anything else is close to nil.

Unlike us, they are stuck in a loop, similar to some of the things here seem to be. Hence, these animals are merely a part of the background.

[justscribing]

There are traps in Sumeru's desert that can lock those unfortunate enough to stumble in into a static space which extends to the person caught. However their free will still exists and should they escape the will continue to live as if it'd only been a brief moment.

[So these could be living creatures caught in a cycle, and this place simply maintains them in perpetuity.]

I wonder how far the puppet group has tested their actual need for sustenance.

[anaxagoreia]

It is effectively a prison.

[ A hideous cycle of perpetuity... ]

If the animals here are entrapped within such a loop, there would be no need.

In addition, those among that group would have had to known that there were animals here in the first place.

[justscribing]

We can always ask them. [Unless Anaxa already did.] They've had at least a sense of a few weeks passing before the rest of us arrived, and so far our area seems to be expanding to what they've already seen.

[anaxagoreia]

They did not have knowledge of animals being present here, based upon my discussions earlier on.

[ So in a way it seems it was confirmed.

Though, that just makes the appearance of such a place with creatures also a bit questionable, in Anaxagoras' eye. ]

WK4 Monday

[justscribing]

[There's a crash in the library. A bookshelf shakes with it.

And shortly after, Alhaitham cursing. Assuming Anaxa can still see he'll find Alhaitham half-clinging to the shelf he just hit, a few books scattered from where they fell off.

Hi.]

[anaxagoreia]

[ Anaxagoras is wandering straight into the library at one point, and then he - well.

Actually, he doesn't hear it. He feels like something is off, but doesn't quite grasp it yet. Weird!

But, he does see Alhaitham clinging to a shelf like a koala. He raises a brow, looking at this, and then closes one eye, sighing. ]

...What are you doing?

[justscribing]

Obviously catching myself from falling. [Which he is Not Enjoying.

At least now that he's stable on something he can bend down to grab one of the books. This stupid week...]

[anaxagoreia]

[ Anaxagoras...

...does not hear this. He takes pause, eyebrows furrowing; he can tell the man clearly had spoken and he's moving around, but... ]

...What did you say?

[ Losing his hearing is no bueno. Do not recommend at all. ]

[justscribing]

I said--[Wait. Anaxa is right there and he's hardly the inattentive sort, so it's unlikely he didn't hear what he said. Unless...]

Oh. You're deaf.

[anaxagoreia]

[ Certainly so.

For better or worse, really. ]

Hmm...since I can't hear what you're saying...

[ Anaxagoras reaches into his pocket, producing a writing implement and some paper, before holding it out to Alhaitham. Modern problems require modern solutions. Communicate by writing. ]

final week, monday

[anaxagoreia]

[ Stepping into the Witch's Lair, it is a place that is semi-familiar, with the surroundings clear as day in its multitude of research-esque items. ]

It seems someone else beat me to it.

[ A piece of paper floats...wishes floating in through the door, and landing near where Alhaitham is standing.

A wish about his students from the Grove being happy, more or less. ]

[justscribing]

[I assume Nala is still sabotaging the coffee so Alhaitham is awake with tea but he is not happy about it.

He looks away from the book with a bit of a delay, first at Anaxa and then the paper.]

So I did. Hello Anaxagoras. [He bends down to pick up the paper and read it.]

Hm. This appears to be yours.

[anaxagoreia]

[ Stay strong, Al Haitham! Besides, tea is superior to coffee - okay, no.

...Anyway, that sure is something. He nods his head towards the other man in greeting before raising a brow. ]

Oh, those little things going around.

Honestly, I wonder why they must be so insistent in their number...?

[ He holds back a grumble. ]

...At this point I may as well ask what it said?

[justscribing]

That you wish for your students to be happy. A very expected wish from you.

[Should it be shameful? Probably not.] Wishes flying around for our wish giver... but if we're all tools, what could she be looking for?

[anaxagoreia]

[ Anaxagoras considers it nowhere near shameful. Though finds it slightly annoying such things are being flung willy-nilly.

Ah, well...such is the nature of this place until they deal properly with Magi. ]

Hm. You are correct that it is only natural.

[ He's looking thoughtful at the question, though. ]

...Is she looking for anything at the moment? Or, perhaps, sending out reminders instead?

[justscribing]

A reminder that she can hear our every thought and desire even if she doesn't deign to speak to us? [Pleasant.]

Or perhaps it's the same thing as being forced to share our regrets--to agitate us and leave us vulnerable.