61 - [video + action for beach house and visitors]

[blackshadow]

[ Tyr is in a better mood than usual as he walks around the empty kitchen. Talking to himself. ]

Relax, Gremio. It's just one birthday... Anyway, we can celebrate again now if you want to--Dad missed it, too. Just sit down; I'll prepare everything for once. I've actually gotten pretty good at cooking...

—I haven't slacked off with that either, Dad. You can watch Riou and I spar later if you wanna see for yourself.

... Ah- Nah, I don't think I'm really ready to go a round with you just yet... Maybe later... Let me start this cake first.

Comments

[blackshadow]

[ It takes Tyr a minute to realise Rita's there. He smiles at her as he looks over his shoulder. Deep down, he's sure this can't be real, but...he really misses them. And if Rita won't mention them, he won't make her play along. ]

Hey, you wanna help?

[ His eyes flicker back over to the table where his father is sitting and Gremio is still standing at, and for a moment, he's unsure if to answer them or not. Maybe if Rita says something. ]

[negativegate]

[...It's too sad. Rita runs a hand through her hair, shaking her head--not a negative answer; it's just that she knows he misses his family, but...she just can't play along. It'd be like lying.]

I don't mind, but...

You know you're the only person I see here, right?

[blackshadow]

[ He turns back around and nods slowly. ]

I know... You don't need to stay in here if you think it's weird...

[ But he won't answer Gremio and Teo while Rita is there. Though he does look over his shoulder to them again - so they don't think he's ignoring them. ]

[negativegate]

[She closes her eyes and thinks for a moment. As much as she wants to make sure Tyr's okay, he was happy enough before, and she can't pretend she can see them...]

...All right.

[She opens her eyes again and half-turns, still looking at him.]

But I don't think it's weird. It's just... They're real to you, so you shouldn't have to ignore them.

[And she thinks it'd be best in this case if she didn't stick around. She can talk to Tyr later, after all.]

[blackshadow]

[ He smiles a little for her. ]

You don't see anyone, do you? Other than them...

[ But it's weird to him. She can't see them, but they're reacting to her - asking what's wrong, Teo asking who she is - and he can't explain it to them just yet. ]

[negativegate]

[She answers it with a small one of her own, and shakes her head.]

Nobody besides us.

[And it doesn't bother her. She certainly doesn't want the curse conjuring up some person who's a stranger.

What does concern her is Tyr, and she thinks he should get to be happy with them for a day, even if she can't see them at all.]

[blackshadow]

Mm...

[ He thinks it's better than a stranger, too. ]

I wish you could see them...

[ He has pictures of Gremio, but he's never found one with his father before.. Which makes him even sadder.

He looks back over to the table again. ]

I'll explain it all to you later. Don't worry.

[negativegate]

[Tyr speaking to the empty air doesn't even seem to weird to her, knowing that it's where he's seeing the two of them.]

I wish I could, too...

[She knows Gremio a bit, at least, though she has no idea about Tyr's father.]

Anyway, I'll just be in the next room if you need anything. You shouldn't waste this time, right?

[The smile she gives him now is small but genuine.]

[blackshadow]

[ He smiles more widely, nodding. She really has become so understanding... ]

Yeah. Maybe they'll show up later, but... Until then, I'll tell you when the cake's done. We can still eat together.

[negativegate]

[It's so much better than when they argued about family... Glad to see him smile too, Rita's grows brighter.]

Yeah--you know I'm not about to turn down cake.

[blackshadow]

[ And he feels better already. He's happy with how far they've come. ]

Good- Dad wants to eat with you, too.

[negativegate]

Really?

[She automatically glances over to the table out of curiosity. She really does want to be able to see them.]

All right--you'll just have to be my translator.

[blackshadow]

[ He brightens up even more when she says that. ]

They can hear you too, you know- but all right. Just take that seat.

[ Points to one closer to the entrance. ]

[negativegate]

Weird.

[Why can they hear her when she can't hear or see them at all? With a slightly perplexed look, she goes ahead and sits in the chair.]

You'll just have to translate to me, then.

[blackshadow]

They think it's weird, too... —Gremio, you can stop. Sit down and give her some air... Let's put lunch off for now.

[ Which isn't weird to him at all. ]

...Anyway, Gremio still remembers you, and Dad's glad to meet you.

[ And thankfully not even trying to shake her hand. ]

[negativegate]

Some air?

[Just how close is he getting?! But Rita recovers and manages a smile, partly because she thinks this is a little funny.]

I'd say the same thing if I could. Anyway, I remember Gremio, too.

[blackshadow]

[ Fret fret fret. ]

He's sitting down now. And he's glad you remember him.

[ He goes silent and just kind of looks over at the chairs blankly. ]

[negativegate]

It's hard to forget someone who frets that much.

[Yep. Her mouth curves up in a bit of a smirk as she says it, though.]

What's up?

[blackshadow]

[ —Okay, that snaps Tyr out of it and makes him laugh. Maybe even more because Gremio is right there. And Teo is laughing too. (It's really nice to see his father laughing...) ]

He was just asking about you and how long you've been staying here. [ While his immediate reaction is to just introduce her and explain the situation, he gives Rita the opportunity to. ...partially because it's nice seeing his father and Rita talking. ]

[negativegate]

[Rita's glad enough to get a laugh out of Tyr, and she directs her attention to the chairs--though she isn't sure which one his father is in--and gives her usual introduction:]

Rita Mordio, genius mage. I've been in this house for a couple years, and Tyr moved in because we had plenty of room.

[blackshadow]

[ Better than saying 'because everyone but Riou left Tyr'. Tyr continues to smile, and with her looking towards them, it feels like they really are having a conversation... ]

They're a little surprised that you've been here so long.

[ Something about how even a genius mage couldn't find her way out. ]

[negativegate]

[Rita's tactless enough that it's something she could easily say, too... While it's probably good that Tyr has enough tact to not say exactly what they are.

Still, although this is a little strange, it isn't so bad at all.]

Really? But Tyr's been here about as long as I have, too.

[blackshadow]

[ Tyr doesn't notice that it might be awkward to laugh a little with his father when she says that. ]

That's beside the point...

[negativegate]

[It sort of is! Rita didn't see what was so funny.]

Huh? Why? It's no different.

[blackshadow]

[ Tyr shakes his head as his father teases him. It feels like old times even with Rita there. ]

It's a small difference. Anyway, why don't you tell him what kind of mage you are?