jesterlies | OPEN POST 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

[ He smiles at Maverick as he comes over. It's an easy thing and will always be easy around his friend, even as he sees the true age in those eyes. And he can only imagine what War it was, with the bitter look that crosses that lined face.

He hm's softly and nods. ]

I'm truly sorry, Seamus. I, at least, knew what I was fighting for was righteous and just.

[ He goes quiet and his eyes a little distant. He takes his glasses off, as if he can spare himself from seeing the past, tucking them gently into his shirt pocket. ]

And you know the horrors war gives you. The sleepless nights. The tension that never seems to abate, as you wait for another call to arms. At seeing those around you slip away, or worse.

[ He looks down at his arms, turning his hands upwards. Scars litter them, magical damage from various spells he's healed. How many soldiers have succumbed in his arms, under his hands? His desperate attempts to heal them, to knit their wounds close, to stop the bleeding oh Saints please why wont it stop-

He inhales roughly and exhales softly. ]

I told you off the attack, did I not? The one that bypassed our soldiers, our forces, and hit our camps. Our healers, our injured. It was an attempt to kill, there was no mercy in it. I am one of the lucky ones, I received only a glancing blow from a stray psychic spell. But it has left my mind addled at times.

[ He reaches up to touch his witch mark on his forehead, altered after the blow. ]

[He thinks back to that stupid conflict, remembers the way that Anglia and conscripted them, threatened his funding back when they were still young and needed all they could to keep the Order afloat.]

[For the Queen, they had said, it's your sworn duty. It has been a pointless skirmish that had escalated into something bloody. A push for a domain in the hands of someone the crown just didn't like, and so they threw countless of bodies at it for self satisfaction. Maverick lost many of his own to that mess and he'll never forgive them for it.]

[He too, has to pull himself back down for a moment, lest he get caught up in that memory.]

I am glad to hear your toiling had not been in vain.

[At least to a point.]

[But as Percy begins to explain, Maverick listens. His expression darkening as they targeted the Healers entirely- and he recalls that mess, remembers the chaos of the veil that day. He tries hard school his expression, to some effect.]

[First he reaches for Percy's hands to look the scarring over, fingers trace with purpose their angry markings. Then he looks up, reaching to gently touch the mark.]

To target Healers in such a ruthless way, greed and cowardice are all to blame. Disgraceful.

[His tone is downright venomous as he speaks, another rare occurrence from Maverick. However his touch is soft.]

Addled in what way? Try to be as specific as you can be, my dear.

[ The touches are soothing and Percy closes his eyes for a moment to simply let his friend touch. Thankfully the mark on his head feels as it did any other time, if slightly warmer now to the touch. Like a faint fever lingers in that spot alone.

He opens his eyes to the venom, giving him a reassuring look, the hand still holding his getting squeezed gently. ]

It was. Many were lost that day.

[ Yet it had also galvanized their forces in a way he had never seen before. Like Maverick with his venom, they had seemed spurred by a sudden hatred. He sighs gently and then huffs a soft laugh. ]

Oh don't use that tone on me, that's the same tone Madame Lofly used whenever we visited the medical wing.

[ But he hums gently, tilting his head, stooping a little to be closer to Maverick without really thinking much of it. ]

When I do manage to sleep, I... see visions? Sometimes they are clear, of events that feel like they haven't yet happened. Sometimes they are not, flitting across my mind like fevers. I've seen you, howling in madness, trapped under something heavy. Lady Lilian sleeping, and Lord Eochiadh like an ink blot against the sun. I saw us in a world much larger than us, face to face in a clash. I saw myself broken and dead inside. A boy with brown wild hair, with a knife in his spine.

[ He exhales gently, closing his eyes again. ]

The clearer ones, they linger, and fill me with a sense of anticipation.

[Warm ...yes, not unlike a sickness in the body, a sickness in magic can take that sort of form. It's more than a magical cold, of course, there is something here lingering, something that could become worse if not treated. He frowns a little.]

[And notices Percy stooping over him. With a huff he urges him to sit down once more on the bed, so that he can have a better look, standing over him.]

Give a reason to stop and I'll cease it's use.

[You might be a professor now, but he is still the Headmaster. While Percy speaks of visions, Maverick closes his eyes and reaches out to him in a new way. Pulls on his Sainthood to get a true look at his health. It will only show him things that threaten his life, but it will give him a better idea of the severity.]

Visions... [And he thinks of how specific he describes the three of them.] I see. And what of the clearer ones?

[ The changes in position gets an actual giggle out of him, a noise he hasn't actually done for a while due to the War. Still upset about the height difference. Goodness. But he'll sit and let Maverick have the height on him to feel better.

Wrinkles his nose and decides to also let him continue to use the 'tell me your ills young man' tone. Fine.

The question of the visions makes him hm, tilting his head a little as he thinks, steeples his fingers together thoughtfully. Picks at his nails, a bad habit he's picked up. Hesitates. Admits. ]

I saw the moment you greeted me home, but weeks ago as I slept. I saw you in your office, trying to pretend to keep yourself busy, but every footstep would make you lift your head. I saw someone come to your door and you-

[ He huffs gently, a little laugh that he raises his hand to hide it behind, amused. ]

Hence my question about you waiting this entire time. Like an old hound dog!

[ A playful tease to the headmaster but also letting Maverick know the type of clearer visions he receives without... ah... explaining some of them. Thankfully, as Maverick looks, it doesn't seem like this new issue will threaten Percy's life any. It's clustered in his head and will make sleep miserable, perhaps. Just a new scar of stuck magic. ]

[He is no such thing! It's just easier for him to look at him this way without craning his neck up and making Percy hunch his back down!! You're welcome!]

[Of course as he explains the clearer vision, there's a certain flush to his face as he realizes he's been caught, and caught so thoroughly.]

Ah. Well.

[He could continue lying, bring up his theory about the other visions, but even he knows to cast doubt on something like this is a bad omen when it's clear Percy is receiving Actual Prophetic Dreams. Hm. He is so very Saint-like, he thinks. So very altruistic. Yes.]

Yes, it seems as though your visions are rather accurate, how curious. I've a stronger potion I've been working on, since you sent your first letter that I'd like you to try. It should help with your sleep.

[Of course the other things ...and the things that have gone unsaid... It leaves him feeling restless and thoughtful.

[ The flush makes him laugh again, louder, and he shakes his head gently, teasing. ]

Has no one truly managed to give you such a good debate thrashing as I?

[ Of course he's going to tease him, because he grew up with this man guiding him. Debating him. Arguing with him. He was Headmaster last, Professor first, and friend always. As they've written to each other, they continued on such a path. Debates in letters, ideas helped into realization - a new method to heal a magic wound, a new suture that will dissolve on it's own over time, a new this or that - and he's learned just how deep this mans humor ran. How deep his love for the people who come into his life.

The idea of a stronger potion makes him sigh heavily in relief. ]

I would like to try it tonight. The ride here was rather rough on top of the lack of sleep. There were several soldiers with me as well, and they were all very delighted to be going home. And loud.

[ He says it ruefully with a wry smile, eyes crinkling to show he doesn't mind obviously. ]

Plus, I must be well rested if I'm to begin making lessons for students. Though I attest myself and my friends were Saints of the most Angelic Order, I understand students nowadays have gotten rowdier and rougher and are little goblins.

Oh, there has certainly been a particularly Percy-shaped hole in my enrichment, that's for certain!

[You little shit. He says this affectionately, of course, because he knows that the moment he realized how brilliant Percy was, he had to do everything he could to ensure he thrived. That Percy became something more akin to a peer over the years was a surprise to him, but all the more rewarding.]

[He smiles as he asks for the potion, and nods.]

I've a fresh batch I brewed this morning, it's setting for another few hours and should be ready when the sun sets. I'll expect a detailed report on its results!

[He barks out a laugh at the Saintliness of him, and his friends.]

Oh, I am sure goblin is in the eye of the beholder, my Dear. Your records, had I not been so generous, would attest to that, considering the number of break-ins to the library count far higher than to what was actually recorded.

[ There it is. He missed this. It wasn't the same through the letters. He smiles warmly at his friend. ]

Then when I am fully rested, I shall give your ears a thorough verbal boxing, my friend!

[ The idea of an actual full nights rest sounds like bliss, truthfully. But the daydreaming of it is interrupted by his sputtering as Maverick drops that on him. ]

You recorded those!?

[ Then further sputtering. ]

They weren't "break-ins"! The library is open to all, is it not! I am nearly blind, my friend, of course I couldn't see the plaques that said- that said nothing cause I couldn't see them!

[ Flustering and he kicks Maverick gently in the shin. 0 damage as his shoes are off. ]

Oh go away and let me unpack! Have you had dinner yet, would you care to join me?

I look forward to it! I have been dreadfully board of late!

[He hasn't, not really, but he is looking forward to them verbal sparring again. Come at him with all your newfound knowledge he wants to put it to the test.]

[Of course that little kick in the shin gets a roar of laughter out of him. He whirls once more with a flourish, bowing like some great actor before he flounces off towards the door.]

Oh, now that you're among the staff I suppose I should let you in on a little secret! Every one of my crests has an eye, I'm sure even your eyesight has been able to see. Did you not think they had a use other than looking lovely on the walls? Mhehehe-!

[He lingers by the door a moment with a wide, toothy grin.]

I'll be happy to join you, in fact, why don't you bring it up to my room, and I'll have a bit of wine for us.

[ Percy squawks as those tassles whack him again as his friend twirls around, and he aims a kick that completely misses as Mavericks already moving away. It leaves him huffing, disgruntled.

Then red as a tomato as he realizes: ]

That's how you always knew when I was behind locked doors!

[ Those decorative crests are everywhere. All Seeing Eyes, benevolently watching the students and teachers as they roam the hallways of the spire.

His ass! Peeping spying eyes for the wicked Headmaster to spook his students when they're deep in a tome older than the earth, scratching frantically on paper to try and copy spells down-! ]

Absolutely lazy and wretched! But fine, I shall join you shortly after a clean up. Go away you foul little creature!

[ He picks up a pillow and throws it in the vague direction Mavericks blur is at, reaching into his pocket for his glasses to set them on his nose to make sure he's hit his target. ]

[Oh, his laughter somehow grows at that, what a delicious payoff this has been! It never gets old, even after all these years, when his students find out that he's always had a watchful eye on their antics!]

Did you think me truly Omniscient? Please, Percy, I'm not a Saint! Oh, how wonderful! I shan't need dinner tonight, your indignation was far more than I could hope to dine on!

[Perhaps as he escapes and Percy gets his glasses back on, he will see the way that Maverick practically vanishes as the Pillow moves through him. A burst of ...smoke? or maybe Mist. Yet his horrid cackling can be heard all down the halls in a wretched echo.]

[Of course it will be a little later when someone comes knocking on his door, right about dinner time. Percy will find the familiar face of Bladimir, who despite the years, also does not appear to have aged beyond that of a young man.]

[ Absolutely wretched goblin!!

By the time Bladimir comes to fetch him, Percy has unpacked, taking a relaxing bath and found something more suitable to wear for dinner but not as fancy as his uniform. He beams at the .... young? man at the door. He was always disconcerted by the two as a student, and while it's not quite eased (he was once younger than Bladimir in looks and now-!) he's aware the two must be supernatural, actual Vampires perhaps, and it no longer bothers him as much. ]

It's a pleasure to see you again, Bladimir! How have you and Carmen been doing?

[ And no, as he steps out into the hallway, he's still not wearing shoes. He ran around this Tower barefoot more often than not when he was younger and, by golly, he will simply do it again. Plus he can sense the Towers energies far better like this, and it's comforting. The Tower feels like an old friend as much as Maverick does, a gentle magical hum under his soles that guides him along far better than his failing eyesight ever did. ]

[Bladimir offers him a smile, pleasant and amiable. Despite his appearance he's always terribly polite to contrast the rather rambunctious personality of his sister(?). Though many know Bladimir to be both dependable and dangerous when it came to information. One would think he had eyes all over the walls.]

"Oh, much the same! Things are ...every interesting in this place, of course, but we've seen none of the action you've returned from. I'm pleased to see that you've arrived safely. Lord Maverick has been rather beside himself for some time over you."

[A smug, secretive little smile, but he moves to lead them back to the main stairwell and to then go further up into the tower.]

"Pacing about the halls, bothering me incessantly for information from the frontline. Of course, I had a few contacts there but its difficult to get Info in and out in such a place."

[ Oh, Bladimir, you give him a gift. And Percy takes it gleefully, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses as he follows the other up further along the Tower. Of course he's been higher than most students, sneaking into places he shouldn't go and then invited up further by Maverick himself in 'tests' to encourage his theories and ideas. But this is the first time he's been up into the 'personal' area of Maverick himself.

Which is delicious along with the tea Bladimir is spilling. ]

Ohoho! And here he was doing his best to convince me he was as worry free as a butterfly on the breeze! Why, jogging around the Tower for early morning laps, even!

[ Oh he's going to absolutely rub it in Mavericks smug little face, though his expression softens lightly. ]

Thank you for doing what you could to reassure him. I'm not surprised it was difficult, it was quite hectic out there, and security was excruciatingly tight. I'm glad to hear all has been well! Has Carmen-

[ Stopped being a little shit? No that's mean. Aha! ]

-grown into her big sister role yet?

[He knows exactly what he is doing, and he thinks it will be much more interesting for some of Maverick's carefully guarded cards to be a bit more laid out. Tip the hand juuuust a little.]

"That may be the tallest of any tale he's ever told. Such a thing would require him to retired his coveted heeled boots and I think he'd rather perish."

[Bladimir owes Maverick a lot, and he is loyal beyond death itself to the man, but that does not mean he will not hesitate to destroy him in front of someone like Percy.]

[They slowly reach the top, the staircase ending up on a landing with a large ornate door. There are a few windows that will show them almost above the clouds. Bladimir makes a soft noise at the mention of Carmen, one of a carefully chosen reaction.]

"Hm. Well, perhaps in a few more years yet. She is still rather attached to being the spoiled youngest, I'm afraid. Lord Maverick loathes sparing her anything she desire of course, I'm afraid he is part of the problem."

[Rather than knock, Bladimir pushes open the door.]

[ Percy will only use this information for good. Maybe a little evil. Mostly good. And to laugh about which he does, a pleasant merry thing. Oh, Seamus. Honestly. He catches sight of a crest and gives it an amused look. Then hm's softly to the comment on Carmen, his eyes sliding to look at Bladimir a little. ]

Truly, that relieves me. There is something about coming home and seeing everyone is exactly as you left them.

[ The nostalgia. The ache of return. He's glad Carmen is still very much herself. As much as she was a small terror to everyone.

Bladimir just pushing the door open makes Percy utter a little surprised noise, but he follows in without hesitation anyways, cheerfully calling out. ]

I do hope your decent, Seamus!

"It would be frightening times to see her change, and yet I can't help but think I would finally have a moments peace."

[He loves her, he does, but she causes him so much trouble. As Percy is led in, Bladimir stays by the door. The room of course, is far bigger than the rest of the staff rooms, and takes up the top of the tower. There's a lovely open skylight above them for star gazing, and a living area with a desk, a table and some chairs. The walls a lined with books and even with all this room, there yet remain stacks of books that do not fit on the walls. There are plenty of old trinkets and instruments, ancient. There are lots of big windows, but they're cupped by thick velvet drapes, and of course Maverick's bed would probably put a King to shame, from where it can be seen through the door way to the other half of his quarters.]

Bloody hell, Bladi, why didn't you knock!?

[Bladimir merely grins.]

"I don't believe that was in your instructions, My Lord, you simply said for me to bring him to your room."

[Sighing. Maverick comes out and he is dressed down by quite a lot. A large ruffled poets shirt that billows out and makes him seem bigger than he is, but with a tight fitting pair of trousers and corset belt, telling Percy exactly what was under those large heavy robes he wore.]

It's just as well. Have a seat Percy, I'll pour us some wine while dinner is on the way. Bladi, you're dismissed, but do check to make sure Carmen's done her coursework tonight.

[Sighs. He can already hear her whining at him to help her because she doesn't want to let Maverick down, even though she won't pay attention in class and put it off to the last minute.]

"Very well, have a good night, My Lord."

[And off he goes.]

[ Somehow Mavericks room is exactly as he imagined. Not that he thought of Mavericks room or anything. He glances up and smiles to the sky above them, then glances around slowly. Books, of course. Trinkets. A lovely telescope that Percy is itching to peer into, and he goes over to it to peer into the eyepiece, making a delighted noise to the sight. Of course the students were allowed to use their own during lessons but Mavericks is so higher of a quality. And it's always so nice to see so powerfully.

He's polite, at least, and doesn't peer towards Mavericks bedroom. But he will laugh to Mavericks grumping, lifting his eyes from the telescope with a little grin. ]

Oh, Seamus, that's your own fault. You know you mustn't leave words up to interpretation.

[ Then he double takes, because while the shirt hides his friends form... those pants do not. As Maverick ushers Bladimir out, Percy pulls away from the telescope properly to go over to him.

And with a healers hands he grips the shirt and pulls it tightly backwards against Maverick, forcing the fabric to stop billowing and cling instead. He promptly makes a distressed noise. ]

Seamus! You're skin and bones! What is this, are you not eating well? Do you feel ill?

[ Much like he would manhandle soldiers who are trying to hide wounds from him, Percy begins to try and pull at the collar of the shirt, peering downwards. He's beginning to make the noises one might associate with a distressed sheep. ]

There is no meat on you at all, my friend!! Dinner, at once!

[He's happy to let Percy look around while he fusses over Bladimir. Once he's gone, he only has a second to process his movements before Percy is promptly manhandling him. He makes a strangled noise in surprise to have his shirt suddenly pulled like that.]

[And it's true, he is rather bony, even for a mage. He sputters a few times,]

Percy-! No, I'm just fine, I'm not ill, please do let me-

[And then he's pulling at his shirt to look down, and of course, other than being able to count his ribs, Percy will also see that particular scar he has on his chest. A nasty thing that screams of having some kind of spear rammed through his chest, since Percy would have seen such wounds on the field.]

Percy.

[ The scar stops him dead, as well as the sound of Mavericks voice at the end. He silently studies the mark. He's very well aware of what it looks like. Something's gone through him. A sword. A lance.

It would have killed him. It should have killed him.

The feverish flash of a memory of Maverick pinned underneath something heavy. His screams.

He closes his eyes and unfists his fingers from Mavericks shirt, sighing heavily. Then he opens them to give him an apologetic smile, his fingers fluffing the shirt up a bit again to hide his figure. ]

I'm sorry, my friend. That was uncouth of me. Of course I was expecting you to be skinny, but the reality seemed worrisome. Are you certain you're all right?

Edited 2025-12-27 01:49 (UTC)

[After a moment, once Maverick is able to compose himself, his posture straightens out and he sighs a little, quietly though his nose. He shakes his head and reaches up to pull the strings on the front of his shirt a little tighter.]

...That's all right. I understand that you were concerned. I suppose on anyone else, my stature would be worrisome. I hadn't thought about it in some time.

[He steps away for a moment to open a cabinet near his desk and fishes out a bottle of wine and a few glasses. he will motion for Percy to have a seat at the small dining table set for two.]

This body of mine, it will not succumb to anything as a result its state. Come now, you know me to be thousands of years old, do you not? Do you think I would take such poor care of myself?

Mm, why doesn't that surprise me in the least.

[ As much as many things about his friend are still a mystery, that he fully intends to pry out of him over time, he knows the mans... almost seeming inability to focus on himself at times. Oh, he's haughty. He does himself up to look grand and pompous, because he quite is. At least pompous.

But he also knows the man who will spend hours debating a young eager eyed boy, pouring through old books and newly acquired ones, heatedly discussing newer applications of older ideas until one of them is face down in a book, snoring away. More often than not Percy, but in those moments had he ever seen Maverick eat? Sip at something?

He takes a seat with a little sigh, folding one leg over the others knee to get comfortable, looking amused. ]

My friend, so many stories about you drift from student to student, do you truly believe me to know which of them is real? Are you truly thousands of years old in body, or do you simply spirit jump from body to body and alter it to look as you need? Are you a Vampire or a perfected Homunculus. Ideal to a human in every way, but smaller.

[ He falls silent after his tease, setting his folded hands together on the table, leaning over them, towards his friend. ]

I have seen you while away hours with me until we were both stiff from our seated positions, and have heard your joints make truly ghastly noises as you stretched. Do I think you would take poor care of yourself? Oh yes.

Hm.

[He pours them both a glass and sets the bottle down carefully. He picks it up and then offers it to him in a gentle toast.]

[But of course then punctuates Percy's words by sipping the wine very casually. Here he is drinking Percy, he has ruined the mystery. Anyway he does remarkably not twitching at the part about his height and he leans his cheek into his fist as he props himself up a bit to look over at Percy.]

I need to start coming up with more interesting stories, I think I've heard all of those already.

[It almost seems like he's not going to comment on the rest before he hums and looks off to one of the windows a moment.]

I suppose you and Lily would be in agreement. Ah, but that does remind me, were you not the one most invested in learning my secrets while in school? I feel as though I heard about your little theory board. Tell me, did you ever come up with a proper guess?

[ He takes the offered glass gently, raising it a little in return to the gentle toast, before taking a sip himself. Oh, it's rich. Definitely a wine to nurse slowly over time. And hm... Maverick IS drinking the wine. Surely he can't be a Vampire then, as Percy tastes no iron in the wine that would suggest it's blood. Unless it's covered in magic. Hm hm hm.

He snorts gently, setting his glass down after another sip, smiling over at his friend. It's a small intimately set table, which is a little surprising to be honest, but it means he can lean in close and conspiratorially.

Which he doesn't want to do right then when Maverick hits him with knowing about his board. He leans back instead, affronted and sputtering once more, his cheeks and ears cherry red. ]

I had no such thing!

[ He's a horrible liar even then, and he huffs and puffs heavily as he picks up his glass again to sip, scowling off to the side. His voice is pouty as he admits: ]

I had settled on possibly Minor Deity. Mayhap not a Saint but perhaps something close. Or a Minor Demon. I was never truly sure on which side you'd lay.

[ He smiles against the rim of his glass, using it to hide himself a bit as he slides his eyes back to Maverick. ]

I also thought perhaps Púca.

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