[ Willow stiffens, then falls to a coughing spell; he assumes this is what caused her shoulders to tense against him. Ozpin falls silent to let it pass. They are nearing the mansion, now, if his flimsy landmarks hold true. Even with his enchanted glasses, it is difficult to make out much through the fog. ]
He did. In this world, light and dark existed as balancing forces. So did life and death, he argued.
She turned instead to his younger brother, the less favored of the two. The god of darkness was merely pleased to have a worshipper. She claimed loyalty to him, and spoke his praises above those of his elder brother...
[ They reach the gate, and Tipp sidles up to it so that Ozpin may see to the latch. Once they are on the other side, and moving steadily up the drive to the front door, he continues. ]
But the god of light grew angry. The two brothers fought, and blamed her for inciting the feud.
[It feels very much like a child's trick - when one parent has already said no, so you ask the other one instead, hoping for an answer you'll like more. Willow understands the need to try, but it's not hard to see that this second attempt is also going to go badly, even before Ozpin tells her about the fight between the two gods. Her sympathy still lies with the poor young woman, desperately trying to save her lost love.
They pass through the gates, and she is suddenly reminded of her first visit here back in December, chased by the white walkers that cornered her. She can even almost imagine seeing the burnt out tower she had been curious about, but never actually asked about, in through the mist. There's still the chance that something might come at them on the grounds, but she doubts it will. With the gates shut behind them, it feels safe.
Her focus is back on the story again, and she winces as he explains where the two brothers decided blame ought to be placed for their fight. It's never going to be a good thing to have gods unite against you. Facing one, she knows, would be bad enough.]
[ They reach the front door, and this time Ozpin has to dismount in order to open it. Tipp remains still and steady beneath Willow. The double doors are grand and wide, easily tall enough to allow Tipp's curving antlers, and he bows his head as he carries her into the foyer.
There is a brief silence as Ozpin shuts the door behind them, the last of the mist swirling about his hands in clinging curls. Then the door is latched, and they are alone in the dim and empty foyer. He is still deeply aware of Willow's every shift of weight against Tipp's bare flanks, the exact pressure of her fingers tightened nervously in his fur. ]
[Of course they cursed her. Osiris may have been furious when Willow called upon him to bring Tara back, refusing to interfere in a natural death, but at least he did not curse her.
She didn't exactly give him the chance to.
Tipp carries her inside, and she ducks her head as they pass through the doorframe. She watches quietly as Ozpin sees to the door, and she straightens in surprise when he reveals the curse was never ending life. She understands the implication immediately - that the woman would never again be reunited with the warrior. It seems a particularly cruel punishment for someone who just wanted a second chance at a love cut tragically short.
She leans forward to dismount and lets Ozpin help her down from Tipp's back. She feels herself sway unsteadily at first, and keeps a hand braced on the elk's shoulder until the moment passes.]
Thank-you. Both of you.
So they cursed her with life for wanting to bring someone she loved back from death?
[ He steps forward to offer her his arm, and Tipp moves away to let them take the lead down the hall towards her room. ]
They did.
[ His voice remains low as they walk, though the rest of the house is silent around them. ]
For failing to respect the balance of life and death, they said, she would walk the world endlessly and learn the pain of a life without end. Immortality is not much of a blessing, I'm afraid. Not for long.
[Willow takes his arm and lets him lead the way to the bedroom, as he continues the tale.
She supposes it does sound like the sort of lesson a god would inflict on someone - you asked for this harmful thing for someone else, so here, you have it instead so you can figure out why it was wrong to ask.
She thinks about Angel, and Mayor Wilkins who pointed out that immortality is no fun when the people you love are mortal, and you have to watch them age and die while you remain unchanged, and she nods in understanding.]
Yeah, that makes sense. That's harsh, though. She wasn't asking for the warrior to be immortal, was she? Just for a second chance. That's kind of a normal part of grief, taken to an extreme.
[ He says it low, in a murmur, as he lets them into the room that will be hers. It is quiet, peaceful, neatly made up. He is a steady arm for her to lean upon as she settles onto the bed.
The story is not over, of course. Not by half. But they are no longer in the quiet safety— odd though it feels to call it such— of the mist. Reality is reimposing itself, and practicality with it. Tippetarius still stands at the door, regal and silent. Ozpin's expression is so very tired.
He is quiet a long moment. Then: ]
Allow me to fetch you something clean to wear. Glynda's wardrobe should do, and we will find something better-fitting in the morning.
[Willow settles onto the edge of the bed quietly, and lets go of his arm. She's more exhausted than she thought she was when they were out in the mist, where there was a chance of being attacked by Maul, or who knows what creatures could have been lurking in the shadows, and it's tempting to want to curl up under the blankets just as she is.
Still, she wants to hear the rest of the story.
Ozpin offers to get her something clean to wear and she nods, and rubs her eyes to try to encourage a bit more alertness. A chance to clean up a bit and get changed should help her stay awake a bit longer, she thinks, and she'll likely sleep better for it.]
Thanks. You're sure Glynda won't mind you raiding her wardrobe?
[ He would offer her something of his, as he once did to Winter, when she first stayed here. But he knows Glynda: the moment he tells her that one of their charges is suffering, no degree of strict practicality will cover how fiercely she cares.
With Willow on the bed, he rises and steps away, back towards the bright-antlered elk at his back. ]
I will return in a moment, then. Is there anything else I should fetch?
[ The story dissipates ever further between them. ]
[She appreciates them both - especially now when it seems like things can't get much worse, and she can't help but smile a little as Ozpin reassures her Glynda won't mind loaning out something for her to wear at least for the night. She is not used to other people looking after her like this.]
Okay. Thank her for me too?
[Willow clears her throat. She'd rather get back to the rest of the story sooner - both because she wants to hear how the rest of it goes, and because she can't imagine stopping in the middle like this makes it any easier on him. Especially when he seemed so determined outside to share it with her.]
[ He steps away, out into the hallway past Tippetarius. As he goes, the elk murmurs to him: It is good of you to try. It will get easier with each telling.
It will not, Ozpin murmurs back, under his breath, as he goes to the stairs. It never has.
The elk can say nothing to that. He is left at the foot of the stairs as Ozpin ascends into the darkness. When he returns with a nightshirt and a glass of water, Willow has already fallen asleep in her clothing, and the dream guide has gone. ]
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no subject
He did. In this world, light and dark existed as balancing forces. So did life and death, he argued.
She turned instead to his younger brother, the less favored of the two. The god of darkness was merely pleased to have a worshipper. She claimed loyalty to him, and spoke his praises above those of his elder brother...
[ They reach the gate, and Tipp sidles up to it so that Ozpin may see to the latch. Once they are on the other side, and moving steadily up the drive to the front door, he continues. ]
But the god of light grew angry. The two brothers fought, and blamed her for inciting the feud.
no subject
They pass through the gates, and she is suddenly reminded of her first visit here back in December, chased by the white walkers that cornered her. She can even almost imagine seeing the burnt out tower she had been curious about, but never actually asked about, in through the mist. There's still the chance that something might come at them on the grounds, but she doubts it will. With the gates shut behind them, it feels safe.
Her focus is back on the story again, and she winces as he explains where the two brothers decided blame ought to be placed for their fight. It's never going to be a good thing to have gods unite against you. Facing one, she knows, would be bad enough.]
So what happened?
no subject
[ They reach the front door, and this time Ozpin has to dismount in order to open it. Tipp remains still and steady beneath Willow. The double doors are grand and wide, easily tall enough to allow Tipp's curving antlers, and he bows his head as he carries her into the foyer.
There is a brief silence as Ozpin shuts the door behind them, the last of the mist swirling about his hands in clinging curls. Then the door is latched, and they are alone in the dim and empty foyer. He is still deeply aware of Willow's every shift of weight against Tipp's bare flanks, the exact pressure of her fingers tightened nervously in his fur. ]
They cursed her with an unending life.
no subject
She didn't exactly give him the chance to.
Tipp carries her inside, and she ducks her head as they pass through the doorframe. She watches quietly as Ozpin sees to the door, and she straightens in surprise when he reveals the curse was never ending life. She understands the implication immediately - that the woman would never again be reunited with the warrior. It seems a particularly cruel punishment for someone who just wanted a second chance at a love cut tragically short.
She leans forward to dismount and lets Ozpin help her down from Tipp's back. She feels herself sway unsteadily at first, and keeps a hand braced on the elk's shoulder until the moment passes.]
Thank-you. Both of you.
So they cursed her with life for wanting to bring someone she loved back from death?
no subject
They did.
[ His voice remains low as they walk, though the rest of the house is silent around them. ]
For failing to respect the balance of life and death, they said, she would walk the world endlessly and learn the pain of a life without end. Immortality is not much of a blessing, I'm afraid. Not for long.
no subject
She supposes it does sound like the sort of lesson a god would inflict on someone - you asked for this harmful thing for someone else, so here, you have it instead so you can figure out why it was wrong to ask.
She thinks about Angel, and Mayor Wilkins who pointed out that immortality is no fun when the people you love are mortal, and you have to watch them age and die while you remain unchanged, and she nods in understanding.]
Yeah, that makes sense. That's harsh, though. She wasn't asking for the warrior to be immortal, was she? Just for a second chance. That's kind of a normal part of grief, taken to an extreme.
no subject
[ He says it low, in a murmur, as he lets them into the room that will be hers. It is quiet, peaceful, neatly made up. He is a steady arm for her to lean upon as she settles onto the bed.
The story is not over, of course. Not by half. But they are no longer in the quiet safety— odd though it feels to call it such— of the mist. Reality is reimposing itself, and practicality with it. Tippetarius still stands at the door, regal and silent. Ozpin's expression is so very tired.
He is quiet a long moment. Then: ]
Allow me to fetch you something clean to wear. Glynda's wardrobe should do, and we will find something better-fitting in the morning.
no subject
Still, she wants to hear the rest of the story.
Ozpin offers to get her something clean to wear and she nods, and rubs her eyes to try to encourage a bit more alertness. A chance to clean up a bit and get changed should help her stay awake a bit longer, she thinks, and she'll likely sleep better for it.]
Thanks. You're sure Glynda won't mind you raiding her wardrobe?
no subject
[ He would offer her something of his, as he once did to Winter, when she first stayed here. But he knows Glynda: the moment he tells her that one of their charges is suffering, no degree of strict practicality will cover how fiercely she cares.
With Willow on the bed, he rises and steps away, back towards the bright-antlered elk at his back. ]
I will return in a moment, then. Is there anything else I should fetch?
[ The story dissipates ever further between them. ]
no subject
Okay. Thank her for me too?
[Willow clears her throat. She'd rather get back to the rest of the story sooner - both because she wants to hear how the rest of it goes, and because she can't imagine stopping in the middle like this makes it any easier on him. Especially when he seemed so determined outside to share it with her.]
Maybe just some water too, please?
no subject
[ He steps away, out into the hallway past Tippetarius. As he goes, the elk murmurs to him: It is good of you to try. It will get easier with each telling.
It will not, Ozpin murmurs back, under his breath, as he goes to the stairs. It never has.
The elk can say nothing to that. He is left at the foot of the stairs as Ozpin ascends into the darkness. When he returns with a nightshirt and a glass of water, Willow has already fallen asleep in her clothing, and the dream guide has gone. ]