Post by Adelle Xephani on Jun 11, 2012 2:45:29 GMT -5
The two moons, Lusiri and Lustolla, cast Graiteale Academy in pale swaths of black, white, and grey. Lusiri was waning from full, and Lustolla was peeking a sliver back into the world. The grounds, and everything on them, were rendered ghostly and only half-substantial without the usual vibrant colors that could be seen in the daylight. It was well after midnight. No man should be expected to be awake at this hour.
Cers was resodding the grass around the battlegrounds. There had been a particularly intense series of combat sessions during the previous day, which meant it was a time-consuming task. He was approximately an hour from finishing when he tilted his head to the side, then turned and beheld Ezrik wandering the grounds.
Ezrik had done a good deal of healing in the week since the Talent Show. His movements were, perhaps, a bit stiff, but that had more to do with his having participated in the day's combat class than any lingering injuries. He meandered around, occasionally glancing about, almost as if he was checking to make sure no one was there. He noticed Cers' massive crouching form, and his movement became purposeful as he steered himself in that direction. As Ezrik moved closer, Cers realized he was carrying a wooden box.
Once Ezrik approached, he spoke in his usual nonchalant manner. "Hmm. I see you're playing in the dirt again."
Cers paused and looked up at Ezrik. Had he been anyone else, he might have smirked. "As I recall, this particular skid-mark was yours."
Ezrik grinned. "I thought that face-print looked familiar."
Cers turned back toward the battlegrounds and resumed his work. "I am surprised you waited so long to approach me. I have noticed you wandering the grounds after dark often, this last week."
There was a ripple in Ezrik's calm. "Don't you ever sleep?"
Cers paused his work and looked up at Ezrik with a quizzically arched eyebrow. Ezrik just looked back, his expression guarded. Each of them had asked a question the other had no interest in answering.
In time-honored tradition, Cers decided to break the silence by changing the subject. "What is in the box?"
Ezrik was relieved by the subject change, and his tone became casual again. "I figured I'd take you up on the offer about Go." He held up his free hand and lit a small flame above it so that Cers could get a better look at the box.
Cers blinked three times in rapid succession and tilted his head to the right. In the past Ezrik had invariably refused, politely or otherwise, to play any game that required over ten minutes to complete. "...I see."
"So, if you're almost finished here, do you want to go to the tree?"
Cers nodded. After a moment's deliberation, he stood up and dusted his palms on his pantlegs. "I will finish after you retire for the evening."
Cers and Ezrik crossed the yard. Ezrik attempted to match Cers' pace, like a small child tries to keep up with its parent. After they reached the tree that Cers was so fond of meditating under, Ezrik set out and lit a series of candles. Cers opened up the box and arranged the white and black stones into their separate piles, explaining the rules to Ezrik all the while.
Once everything was set up, Cers began to place a series of black stones on all of the star points. "I am starting you at a nine-stone handicap."
"What? Come on. Just because you know the game better than me doesn't mean I have to have THAT big of a difference."
Cers paused in mid-motion as he set down the sixth stone and looked up at Ezrik, his expression unreadable. Then he looked back down and deliberately placed the stone on the board. "...I am starting you at a nine-stone handicap."
Ezrik leveled a glare at Cers and let out an irritable huff, but Cers continued on inexorably. Ezrik debated on protesting further, but decided against it; he had learned that it was best to simply concede the point when Cers repeated himself.
The first game was played in relative silence, although Cers spoke up occasionally to give Ezrik helpful tips or hints. Ezrik resented them at first, but as time progressed he found it far more necessary to concentrate on the play at hand--and every potential move that could be made based off his decision. White stones spread across the board like an incoming tide. The black stones were able to hold small areas and fought valiantly for what they managed to get, but when it came time to tally the points Cers won overwhelmingly.
Ezrik shook his head. "You're too good at this game."
"I have had a great deal of practice." Cers leaned back against the tree. "You have grasped the basics of the game. Would you like to play again?"
Ezrik was always up for a challenge. "Sure."
Cers resorted the stones and set up the board. Once again, he gave Ezrik a nine-stone handicap. Ezrik did not protest this time.
Once the game had progressed past the opening moves, Cers spoke. "I would assume, as you sought me out, that there is something you wish to discuss."
Ezrik placed a stone. Cers placed a stone. Ezrik moved to place another, but his hand hovered over the board. He seemed more concerned with the candles' flame than the board's surface.
"Ever since the party, I haven't been able to get my head on straight. Especially with the misplaced... memories?" Ezrik thought for a moment, then nodded to confirm the assessment.
Cers scowled. "...I have also found myself... unsettled." He placed a stone and then, almost as an afterthought, continued his statement. "It has affected my sleep patterns." He gave Ezrik a pointed look, as if he were daring Ezrik to challenge the statement.
Ezrik arched an eyebrow and returned the look in kind, but did not take the bait. "I imagine having such personal events ripped out of your head to be revealed for everyone to see has thrown most people off."
Cers nodded his agreement. "...Some things are best left private."
"Especially if you didn't want specific individuals to know."
"Indeed." Cers paused. "How has Miss Tiraboschi handled her revelation?"
Ezrik started absently rolling one of the stones between his fingers. After a few moments, it began to glow softly. "Umm... I haven't talked to her... or been anywhere near her." He blinked when he realized his 'black' stone had turned red-hot, and set it aside in the grass.
Cers watched Ezrik dispassionately. "I have observed in the past that avoiding uncomfortable situations often makes them worse."
Ezrik picked up one of his stones and placed it without thinking. "It's safer for her to be angry at me than to be caught in one of my flare-ups."
Cers shook his head and removed Ezrik's stone from the board. "Replay that."
Ezrik placed the stone elsewhere, but it was only a slightly better placement.
Cers sighed and, by placing one stone, eliminated one of Ezrik's strongest points of defense. "So you intend to keep her at a distance. ...That is a lonely path." There was a hint of emotion in Cers' tone, perhaps an old pang of sadness or regret.
"I don't expect my path to be a long one." Ezrik's tone was flat with the weight of resignation.
Cers left his finger on his stone as he sought for his next words. "...I had gathered as much. You have yet to show an inclination toward long-term goals."
Ezrik slammed a stone down on the board; it sparked as it clacked against the tile. "What would you have me do? It's hard enough to maintain it at this point."
"I have recommended meditation to you in the past. To make peace with the soul, one must first make peace with the mind."
Ezrik's tension dissolved into guilt, as if he had been rebuked by an authority figure. He fell silent and began to focus solely on the game.
After some thought, Cers continued. "You live your life like a series of explosions. Everything is large and flashy and immediate. However, no explosion lasts long. ...It would, perhaps, suit you better to approach life as if tending a bonfire."
Ezrik's response was melancholy. "It's not like it would matter at this point. I did kind of screw everything up."
"Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of living. You are alive. You have your health, at least for the moment. You still have the chance to change things, if you are willing to make the effort."
"If Bella gets ahold of me, I won't have my health."
Cers arched an eyebrow. "I was referring to more than your relationship with Miss Tiraboschi."
Ezrik grew tired of the way Cers was steering the conversation. "So, when do you sleep? Considering how much sod you have to put down after I leave."
Cers' stone placements became slow and deliberate as he chose his words. "...I will have time to rest before morning."
Ezrik smirked. "You know, of all the memories going around, there was only one that didn't seem exactly... plausible."
Cers' eyes snapped up to study Ezrik's face. "How do you mean?"
Ezrik realized Cers had misplaced his stone as he looked up to meet Cers' gaze. "Out of all the unusual characters, you're the only one who seemed affected."
Cers' eyes narrowed. "There were several people affected." There was a palpable undercurrent of hostility to his words.
Ezrik's eyes widened as he put his hands up. "Whoa, I was just making a shot in the dark. I didn't think it actually had any relevance to you. Didn't meant to step on any sore points."
Cers ruminated on the stone he was holding for several seconds before placing it on the board. "As I said before. Some things are best left private." All visible traces of Cers' emotional outburst were gone, but the tension it had caused lingered. "...I believe I have placed you in atari."
Ezrik smiled and attempted to keep his tone light in order to inject levity into the situation. "You are way too good at this game."
"...Yes. Well." Cers stood up. "I must return to my work." He turned to leave, but continued to speak as he walked away. "You have a good mind for strategy. We should play again in the future."
Ezrik put the contents of the game away absently until he remembered the stone he had placed off to the side. It had blackened the grass around it and, while it was no longer glowing, it was clearly still hot. Ezrik watched it for a long while as he contemplated whether or not he should pick it up.
Cers was resodding the grass around the battlegrounds. There had been a particularly intense series of combat sessions during the previous day, which meant it was a time-consuming task. He was approximately an hour from finishing when he tilted his head to the side, then turned and beheld Ezrik wandering the grounds.
Ezrik had done a good deal of healing in the week since the Talent Show. His movements were, perhaps, a bit stiff, but that had more to do with his having participated in the day's combat class than any lingering injuries. He meandered around, occasionally glancing about, almost as if he was checking to make sure no one was there. He noticed Cers' massive crouching form, and his movement became purposeful as he steered himself in that direction. As Ezrik moved closer, Cers realized he was carrying a wooden box.
Once Ezrik approached, he spoke in his usual nonchalant manner. "Hmm. I see you're playing in the dirt again."
Cers paused and looked up at Ezrik. Had he been anyone else, he might have smirked. "As I recall, this particular skid-mark was yours."
Ezrik grinned. "I thought that face-print looked familiar."
Cers turned back toward the battlegrounds and resumed his work. "I am surprised you waited so long to approach me. I have noticed you wandering the grounds after dark often, this last week."
There was a ripple in Ezrik's calm. "Don't you ever sleep?"
Cers paused his work and looked up at Ezrik with a quizzically arched eyebrow. Ezrik just looked back, his expression guarded. Each of them had asked a question the other had no interest in answering.
In time-honored tradition, Cers decided to break the silence by changing the subject. "What is in the box?"
Ezrik was relieved by the subject change, and his tone became casual again. "I figured I'd take you up on the offer about Go." He held up his free hand and lit a small flame above it so that Cers could get a better look at the box.
Cers blinked three times in rapid succession and tilted his head to the right. In the past Ezrik had invariably refused, politely or otherwise, to play any game that required over ten minutes to complete. "...I see."
"So, if you're almost finished here, do you want to go to the tree?"
Cers nodded. After a moment's deliberation, he stood up and dusted his palms on his pantlegs. "I will finish after you retire for the evening."
Cers and Ezrik crossed the yard. Ezrik attempted to match Cers' pace, like a small child tries to keep up with its parent. After they reached the tree that Cers was so fond of meditating under, Ezrik set out and lit a series of candles. Cers opened up the box and arranged the white and black stones into their separate piles, explaining the rules to Ezrik all the while.
Once everything was set up, Cers began to place a series of black stones on all of the star points. "I am starting you at a nine-stone handicap."
"What? Come on. Just because you know the game better than me doesn't mean I have to have THAT big of a difference."
Cers paused in mid-motion as he set down the sixth stone and looked up at Ezrik, his expression unreadable. Then he looked back down and deliberately placed the stone on the board. "...I am starting you at a nine-stone handicap."
Ezrik leveled a glare at Cers and let out an irritable huff, but Cers continued on inexorably. Ezrik debated on protesting further, but decided against it; he had learned that it was best to simply concede the point when Cers repeated himself.
The first game was played in relative silence, although Cers spoke up occasionally to give Ezrik helpful tips or hints. Ezrik resented them at first, but as time progressed he found it far more necessary to concentrate on the play at hand--and every potential move that could be made based off his decision. White stones spread across the board like an incoming tide. The black stones were able to hold small areas and fought valiantly for what they managed to get, but when it came time to tally the points Cers won overwhelmingly.
Ezrik shook his head. "You're too good at this game."
"I have had a great deal of practice." Cers leaned back against the tree. "You have grasped the basics of the game. Would you like to play again?"
Ezrik was always up for a challenge. "Sure."
Cers resorted the stones and set up the board. Once again, he gave Ezrik a nine-stone handicap. Ezrik did not protest this time.
Once the game had progressed past the opening moves, Cers spoke. "I would assume, as you sought me out, that there is something you wish to discuss."
Ezrik placed a stone. Cers placed a stone. Ezrik moved to place another, but his hand hovered over the board. He seemed more concerned with the candles' flame than the board's surface.
"Ever since the party, I haven't been able to get my head on straight. Especially with the misplaced... memories?" Ezrik thought for a moment, then nodded to confirm the assessment.
Cers scowled. "...I have also found myself... unsettled." He placed a stone and then, almost as an afterthought, continued his statement. "It has affected my sleep patterns." He gave Ezrik a pointed look, as if he were daring Ezrik to challenge the statement.
Ezrik arched an eyebrow and returned the look in kind, but did not take the bait. "I imagine having such personal events ripped out of your head to be revealed for everyone to see has thrown most people off."
Cers nodded his agreement. "...Some things are best left private."
"Especially if you didn't want specific individuals to know."
"Indeed." Cers paused. "How has Miss Tiraboschi handled her revelation?"
Ezrik started absently rolling one of the stones between his fingers. After a few moments, it began to glow softly. "Umm... I haven't talked to her... or been anywhere near her." He blinked when he realized his 'black' stone had turned red-hot, and set it aside in the grass.
Cers watched Ezrik dispassionately. "I have observed in the past that avoiding uncomfortable situations often makes them worse."
Ezrik picked up one of his stones and placed it without thinking. "It's safer for her to be angry at me than to be caught in one of my flare-ups."
Cers shook his head and removed Ezrik's stone from the board. "Replay that."
Ezrik placed the stone elsewhere, but it was only a slightly better placement.
Cers sighed and, by placing one stone, eliminated one of Ezrik's strongest points of defense. "So you intend to keep her at a distance. ...That is a lonely path." There was a hint of emotion in Cers' tone, perhaps an old pang of sadness or regret.
"I don't expect my path to be a long one." Ezrik's tone was flat with the weight of resignation.
Cers left his finger on his stone as he sought for his next words. "...I had gathered as much. You have yet to show an inclination toward long-term goals."
Ezrik slammed a stone down on the board; it sparked as it clacked against the tile. "What would you have me do? It's hard enough to maintain it at this point."
"I have recommended meditation to you in the past. To make peace with the soul, one must first make peace with the mind."
Ezrik's tension dissolved into guilt, as if he had been rebuked by an authority figure. He fell silent and began to focus solely on the game.
After some thought, Cers continued. "You live your life like a series of explosions. Everything is large and flashy and immediate. However, no explosion lasts long. ...It would, perhaps, suit you better to approach life as if tending a bonfire."
Ezrik's response was melancholy. "It's not like it would matter at this point. I did kind of screw everything up."
"Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of living. You are alive. You have your health, at least for the moment. You still have the chance to change things, if you are willing to make the effort."
"If Bella gets ahold of me, I won't have my health."
Cers arched an eyebrow. "I was referring to more than your relationship with Miss Tiraboschi."
Ezrik grew tired of the way Cers was steering the conversation. "So, when do you sleep? Considering how much sod you have to put down after I leave."
Cers' stone placements became slow and deliberate as he chose his words. "...I will have time to rest before morning."
Ezrik smirked. "You know, of all the memories going around, there was only one that didn't seem exactly... plausible."
Cers' eyes snapped up to study Ezrik's face. "How do you mean?"
Ezrik realized Cers had misplaced his stone as he looked up to meet Cers' gaze. "Out of all the unusual characters, you're the only one who seemed affected."
Cers' eyes narrowed. "There were several people affected." There was a palpable undercurrent of hostility to his words.
Ezrik's eyes widened as he put his hands up. "Whoa, I was just making a shot in the dark. I didn't think it actually had any relevance to you. Didn't meant to step on any sore points."
Cers ruminated on the stone he was holding for several seconds before placing it on the board. "As I said before. Some things are best left private." All visible traces of Cers' emotional outburst were gone, but the tension it had caused lingered. "...I believe I have placed you in atari."
Ezrik smiled and attempted to keep his tone light in order to inject levity into the situation. "You are way too good at this game."
"...Yes. Well." Cers stood up. "I must return to my work." He turned to leave, but continued to speak as he walked away. "You have a good mind for strategy. We should play again in the future."
Ezrik put the contents of the game away absently until he remembered the stone he had placed off to the side. It had blackened the grass around it and, while it was no longer glowing, it was clearly still hot. Ezrik watched it for a long while as he contemplated whether or not he should pick it up.