Crashing a (tea) party

[bitterguardian]

It's funny how quickly Balthazar and Horvath have become fast friends again. They were almost brothers, once upon a time, and without the nasty complication of being on opposite sides, or Balthazar being insane, they've fallen straight back into old ways.

So it's not all that unusual for Horvath to be visiting the Arcana Cabana, leaning casually against a counter and playing with a little stone statue of a bird while Balthazar rummages in a stack of cardboard boxes nearby, regaling him with stories of his travels, punctuated by the occasional sneeze from the dust he's stirring up. Horvath's hat and coat are still on, but only because he's just gotten there a few minutes ago, and they haven't moved to the back room for tea yet. Both the old sorcerers are looking forward to a peaceful afternoon of nostalgia, tea, and cookies.

Comments

[merlinian]

Dave is totally not laughing at them. Nooooope.

He's just coughing into his hand, see?

While the two much older sorcerers do their thing, he's content to sit and watch quietly. If there's one thing his Balthazar taught him that he never forgets to do in the presence of other sorcerers, it's to watch.

He may have defeated Morgana, but Dave knows he's nowhere near knowing all he needs to know.

[grimholdkeeper]

Balthazar is oblivious to the amusement of the other two, considering the ritual before them. The frown of concentration might be more familiar to Dave, at least, than his previous, lighter mannerisms. He scatters grains of salt around the outside of the circle, then steps cautiously within the border and crouches near the symbol that represents Time, pulling out the stick of chalk and twiddling it thoughtfully in his fingers.

"The last time I fiddled with dimensions was when I was teaching Stuart," he says distantly. "I haven't had much call for it. You'd better check my figures after me, Maximus. Actually, you, too, Dave. If you don't know them you'll at least be getting a look at something new."

[bitterguardian]

Horvath, too, sobers quickly with a nod. "Of course. It would be dangerous to get a cavalier attitude toward cross-dimensional magic just because of the Nexus..." On that note, he rummages in his pocket and pulls out his PINpoint, setting it aside on a shelf just in case it has the potential to cause any interference.

Dave is about to watch masters at work...

[merlinian]

"Who's Stuart?" Dave asks, standing and stepping over to peer at Balthazar's work.

When Horvath moves his whatever that is—a cell phone?—he feels around in his pockets for his own, which is conveniently sitting back in his lab in the correct time.

He'd be lying (and badly, of course) if he said this wasn't kind of exciting.

[grimholdkeeper]

He writes figures in chalk on the floor around the circle, pausing to erase and replace one after a moment's consideration. They appear to be a blend of runes and mathematical symbols. It takes him a minute to pull out of whatever zone he's in mentally and answer the question.

"My last apprentice. From 1898 until 1907. But he's long gone." He frowns at nothing in particular, face downturned. "Stuart Prentiss. He was a good man. More of a philosopher than a fighter."

[bitterguardian]

Horvath limps closer, careful of the circle and watching his step, and rests a light hand on Balthazar's shoulder. After a moment of silence and a gentle squeeze, he steps back again to study the chalk markings.

[merlinian]

Now there's a word Dave responds to. He notices Horvath's gesture, though—thankfully—and decides that it would be better not to follow that up with the question, "Gone? Like, dead?"

So instead he just nods and focuses his own gaze on the markings, silently trying to match them up against ones he's committed to memory.

[grimholdkeeper]

"I've had several, over the years. We both have, actually. Never stopped looking, and never will, but there are always children who need guidance, all over the world." Balthazar gives Horvath a grateful look, then hands him the chalk and backs up to give them both better access.

"Right. There's a difference between tapping into time and tapping into dimensions, although they're related fields. Playing with time is riskier in the sense that you can create a closed loop and annihilate yourself, but moving between dimensions creates the potential to get completely lost. I know of at least one sorcerer who did just that. Anything you can imagine exists somewhere, sometime. Also a number of things you can't imagine." He smiles wryly.

[bitterguardian]

"You've had more apprentices than I..." Horvath murmurs, and limps a few paces one way and then another, studying Balthazar's handiwork. Different experiences have given them slightly different knowledge, so between the two of them they should be fairly capable at helping Dave get back.

With an effort and a grunt, Horvath lowers himself to one knee and makes a few subtle additions with the chalk. He could probably use a little help getting up again when he's done. "We... could send him off with a PINpoint, though, you know..." It's faint, but there's a hint of hopefulness in his voice. It seems like a shame not to give the boy a way to visit again, whether or not he chooses to use it.

[merlinian]

Dave refrains from making a 'you can stop looking; I'm right here!' comment.

He continues listening and continues nodding like he understands what's going on (he does—or most of it, anyway), but then he glances over at Horvath, one eyebrow raised curiously.

"A... what?"

[grimholdkeeper]

Balthazar gives Horvath a long, even look. "After I just told him not to screw around between dimensions? You're making us look bad."

Secretly, he's amused, though, and with a shake of his head he answers Dave's question, "There are low-cost devices given out in the dimensional hub where Maximus and I met. They're called PINpoints. They're quantum rather than magical, strictly speaking. Although I suppose when you get to that level of complexity the difference is...not much. It's how we visit one another and communicate."

He has his in a pocket, and gets it out while Horvath checks his work. It looks more or less like a digital watch with extra buttons and a large display. "We can't use it to get you home, since we don't know what coordinates to put in, but you could take one with you and work from there, if you're willing to take the risk."

[bitterguardian]

Horvath keeps his head down, studying the circle, because that's a good way to keep either of them from seeing his slightly sheepish expression.

"In case of emergency. It would be a way to reach us." He finally glances up at Balthazar, although he probably looks a little sheepish still. "You can't deny the Nexus has excellent resources... he's come this far."

He hands back the chalk and starts to lever himself back to his feet with the cane.

[merlinian]

Dave shuffles over to Balthazar to get a better look at the device, his messy brows rising in curiosity. "That's... really cool, actually."

While it's true that he and risk used to be enemies, they're almost friends now. On a first name basis, certainly.

"Yeah," he says, easily. "I'll take one. If—I mean, if it's okay with both of you."

[grimholdkeeper]

Balthazar gives Horvath a wry smile. It's a bit of a switch, him being the cautious one and the older man being gung-ho. He'll tease him more later. When Dave comes closer, he hands over the device willingly. "I don't know where I put the manual, but coordinates for here, the Nexus, and Maximus' world are already programmed in."

"It is cool, I admit. I took a look at the insides already, but I need to research more before I try tampering. I strongly advise you to do the same." Tinkering and mechanical work are not Balthazar's primary focus, but he's known many inventors and scientists. He's curious, and wouldn't be surprised if Dave was equally so.

"Maxim, you'll need yours to get home, but if I'm giving him mine, I expect you to get me a replacement." This is not strictly necessary. He has other ways to get to the Nexus. But it's fair.

[bitterguardian]

"Of course!" Horvath is glad to give Balthazar every means possible to visit him. He's lived far too long without a friend.

"But are you entirely certain it's wise to give him that without the manual?" He's still cautious, in his way, and possibly teasing Dave a little. "You never know where he might land himself, fiddling around. Isn't there supposed to be a dimension full of nothing but shrimp?"

[merlinian]

Meanwhile, Dave is just going to turn the device over and over in his hands until I can gather all of its secrets through touch-osmosis, or something.

(Actually, he's just really damn intrigued.)

"I don't like shrimp," he says absently, eyes still focused on the PINpoint.



Beat.

He looks up.

"Wait, what?"

[grimholdkeeper]

"Boiled shrimp, yes. Or so I've heard. I've never been there." It sounds ridiculous, actually, but then again the Nexus is ridiculous, so why not?

He's watching Dave giving the PINpoint a once-over though, and finds the absent-minded interest strangely familiar. Is it Merlin that reminds him of, or possibly himself? Maybe both.

He gives a little shake of his head. "Good point, though, Max. I'll go fetch the manual." He steps very carefully out of the circle and heads for the stairs.

[bitterguardian]

With Balthazar off and away up the stairs, Horvath keeps a closer eye on the boy. "Just... don't press any of the buttons." It's almost as if he doesn't trust Dave not to whisk himself off to another dimension through sheer clumsiness!

"At least not without leaving us a few more hairs to track you by."

[merlinian]

Dave cannot possibly imagine why Horvath wouldn't trust him to accidentally get lost in the void. It's not like his finger was hovering over one of the buttons, or anything...

(It totally was, actually.)

Some tension returns to his shoulders when he realizes Balthazar is gone. Horvath's word choice doesn't help, either—Dave lifts his gaze from the device in his hands and glances over at the older sorcerer, one eyebrow quirking upward. "Track me?"

[bitterguardian]

"Well we wouldn't want to abandon you in a sea of solid shrimp..." He smirks, then notes Dave's expression and sighs. "It was a joke... never mind." His customary frown is slipping back into place, an expression born of worry and a serious nature, not anger. He limps a few paces away to lean against a sturdy old table, heaped with boxes of who-knows-what.

"The other me...?" He seems unable to finish the question, and shakes his head a little.

((She said to skip Balthazar for a round since he's out of the room.))

[merlinian]

(EMOTIONAL WHIPLASH BETWEEN THREADS.)

"I don't even like shrimp." Dave shudders at the thought. He's not a seafood kinda guy. He doesn't even like going in the ocean, let alone taking things out and eating them...

But, we digress.

He notes the look on Horvath's face, and some guilt pangs deep in his chest. "I'm sorry. It's—yeah, it's that. Him. Not you."

[bitterguardian]

Horvath studies the cobwebbed ceiling absently, rather than give Dave any further looks that inspire him to foot-shuffling stammering guilt. He's bothered, but he's making an effort not to take it personally.

"Yes, I've... gathered. The version of me in this world is much the same as what you know, I believe. Balthazar's told me he's safely locked away in the Grimhold for the time being." His gaze drops, and he focuses on the dragonheaded cane. There's no talisman there, it's a necessary crutch, rather than a weapon.

"I can't say I don't understand why he'd be bitter. So am I. But my responsibility and love for my fellow apprentices was stronger than that, and always will be. He has much to answer to for betraying that. Balthazar and Veronica were my family."