Tragedy in Blue (for westfallcorndog)

[conjuredskies]

Felix has sent word via Jim that he's ready to assist Harrow - that he has everything required. He didn't specify what: Harrow knows well enough. He did specify where: a long-neglected picnic area marked by picturesque little boulders and paved with some kind of bricks. It's no doomstone circle, but it'll do. Felix has a sense of both appropriate dramatic flair and practical caution.

Granted, the 'altar' leaves something to be desired on both counts, but he had an atronach rip out the table's benches earlier and clear away the unnecessary furniture. Felix has been busy setting wards around the ritual space, some powered by blood and some by a pair of lesser soul gems: wards to keep out unwanted magical influence and bind what's in the circle from harming him. Or Harrow. Of course.

Preparations as complete as they're going to get, he's sitting on one of the boulders while he clears his mind and waits. His satchel - and the thing it contains - lies by the table, at a comfortable distance.

Comments

[westfallcorndog]

Harrowheart rubs at his forehead a while before he scrubs his hand down the side of his face. With a deep sigh he says, "It's complicated." Complicated enough that he's not even sure where to start, or what to say, or even how much is worth divulging.

"A death knight isn't always in control of their own thoughts," he says, his words slowed by the effort of his thoughts. "We're haunted by thoughts and urges that aren't our own, and we gotta fight for our sanity all the time. It's the price of our free will. We can put it off for a while, dependin' on how strong our will is, but eventually we can't hold back from doin' what the thoughts tell us. I'm used to not always bein' in control of what I think or do, but... On Azeroth. Not here, not in the Nexus. It doesn't happen here. Or... Didn't..."

His mouth shifts side to side. He's not really sure what to make of any of this. For a few seconds he watches Felix as if he expects some kind of answer from him, but he soon realizes there's no way Felix would know better than himself.

He's loathe to admit it, but he can't help guessing, "Maybe the peace runes you put down... Maybe they..." Light. "Weakened my mind somehow. Changed the rules of the game."

[conjuredskies]

Despite how admittedly grim the picture is that Harrow paints, Felix looks briefly intrigued. That is, before he remembers he can't stand that sort of magic and certainly wants to know nothing more about it and so he should stop looking so interested. It's something he should think over later, though, having felt the blades communicate in just that way. He can't help but grimace at the idea of having to deal with that every moment of every day... And then there's the matter of his wards, which catches his attention because it's more immediately testable. Less personally unnerving.

"Hmm. Maybe." He gives Harrow a moment's scrutiny, detecting that reluctance, but breaks it to look around the circle, running a hand through his hair. "They are meant to set the terms of this space. I've never used them to interact with someone like you before. Maybe the attunement wasn't ideal... But I'm not in any hurry to try and practice, if I'm honest. Anyway, speaking of the wards..."

Felix holds his hand out, gesturing a little, and the wards drop in a tiny snap and flare of purple light, leaving only the echo of magic around them. "I... hope you find the bargain to your satisfaction. That it works out well."

[westfallcorndog]

Hearing Felix isn't interested in studying the effects of his wards brings Harrowheart a visible calm, if one can be described as 'visibly calm' in a suit of sharp metal armor. With the wards gone he fully relaxes. There's something about being free of someone else's magic – even if it is peaceful – that takes a subconscious edge off.

He finds himself nodding before he knows he's doing it. "I can't believe you got a whole month out of 'em, honestly. I figured it'd be a week at most... I don't think 'satisfied' is gonna be enough for this."

The corner of his mouth twitches with the hint of a smile and one of his hands pats Felix on the shoulder. "I know it wasn't easy to be here or do this or deal with me, or any of that, but... You did great, Felix. I really owe you – and I don't just mean the payment. This is really gonna change my life, man."

[conjuredskies]

"It's just a matter of knowing how to talk to them," Felix says, as assured as if he knows exactly that. He doesn't even quite jump when Harrow pats his shoulder, just smiles slightly. "I don't care for letting my friends down."

He scoops the fragments of the soul gem up in the cloth he wrapped it with, and retrieves his satchel. "I have some cleaning up to do here, but you can go and... enjoy your freedom, I suppose. Until next time, Harrowheart."