[OTA]

[icanhearscreams]

Stop talking stop talking stop talking stop talking it's like the screaming it's not real it can't be real it has to be fake. Just another hallucination.

Stop it, stop it, stop it! It's not real! It's not... just stop...

Comments

[icanhearscreams]

[He doesn't take Zak's hand, but does follow along.]

It's better than nothing, I guess?

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

-=he remains near the boys side as they head towards the workshop=-

It is essentially creating a distraction in your mind. Something to concentrate on in the times people are more active in their mental communications. I have found that it eventually falls to the background on it's own.

[icanhearscreams]

... What kind of distraction?

[He could start reciting zoological facts, but... well. He's going to have to find more.]

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

My son enjoys reading. I have met someone to recites poetry. I personally run through sword drills in my mind, imagine their weight in my hands and the movements I need to take from the simple to the most complex.

Whatever you feel would hold your attention would be the most effective.

[icanhearscreams]

Something to hold my attention...

[He thinks about it for a few moments as they keep going.]

Homework. Science books that I've read. I had one when I was younger I know almost by heart.

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

Science is akin to alchemy, is it not? Technology.

-=he says the last word a bit awkwardly, as if recently learned=-

Something you have an affinity for would be most ideal.

[icanhearscreams]

Alchemy's not - it doesn't really work in my world. It's the precursor to chemistry, though.

[At least he's not snapping at him about magic anymore.]

I wanted to be a scientist when I got older. ... That's... not going to happen, though.

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

-=he's quiet for a moment before he continues=-

I have lived over four centuries, and if I have learned anything in that time it's that you should not give in to those telling you what can and cannot be, even if that voice is your own.

[icanhearscreams]

[He shakes his head. Putting aside the 'four centuries' thing...]

Dead people don't get to go to college.

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

You are no longer dead, if that was the case.

-=he says without skipping a beat, pushing open the elaborate door that leads into the common area of the Workshop=-

[icanhearscreams]

Which makes no sense. It happened to all of the others...

[He pauses, looking around the room. It's... well. It's bigger than he would have expected.]

... Huh. This is... wow. How did all of this get here?

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

Resurrection is not an entirely impossible thing. I had been long dead before I was brought here.

-=dead twice over in fact, though he leaves that part out. He stops to regard the boy again, looking faintly amused.=-

I am not a practitioner of the arcane arts, so I cannot explain much when it comes to magic . Though, I do believe the creation of these spaces is a skill someone here can teach you.

-=he gestures to a staircase across the main hall=-

The private rooms are upstairs. I am certain we can find you a quiet place to rest there.

[icanhearscreams]

That makes no sense. But I - magic doesn't exist where I'm from. I still don't... really like this.

[He looks up at the staircase and sighs, starting to climb. He just needs a nap now.]

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

I have never been fond of magic myself, but it is highly prevalent where I am from. While magic sustains this place it has become a safe haven for many travelers.

-=he follows the boy up the stairs where the halls fan out around them like the spokes of a wheel=-

Any open door is a room you can claim for yourself.

[icanhearscreams]

[He stares and takes a deep breath.]

I... okay. Let's... see.

[He heads towards the hallway on their left, going a little ways down the hall until there's an open door.]

This one, I guess. It doesn't really matter.

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

-=zak just nods, making no move to enter the room himself=-

Try to find what rest you can, focus on your science. There are many here who would be willing to help you if you need it.

[icanhearscreams]

... I'll do what I can.

[He's not convinced about the people here, but... well. It'll take some time to see if any of them are actually decent. He's not sure.]

I... maybe I'll see you later?

[hiding_honor_in_darkness]

I am not difficult to find.

-=he says, then stops as he turns to leave=-

Rest well.

[icanhearscreams]

... You too.

[And he closes the door to try to collapse into bed.]