Chiron & Fiore; catch-all

[cheir]

Comments

[cheir]

[ She hasn't ever dared to ask, if centaurs ever did carry around people like horses did, but she'd assumed that Chiron didn't do it often. He was a dignified and respected teacher to so many heroes, after all.

But it also hasn't escaped her notice that he's doing this for her sake-- because of what she'd told him, even if she would have been fine moving around in her chair.

Not for the first time, Fiore thinks that Chiron's kindness is more than she deserves. ]

Down the hall and to the left-- there's a ramp there, at least.

[horsepowered]

Ah, very good. That'll be much easier than stairs.

[Stairs are...complicated at this size and with four feet. It goes without saying that a ramp is a relief, and as Chiron makes his way there, he gains just a little bit of speed so that Fiore can adjust.

There were doubtlessly easier ways to even go about this act. Waiting until they were both outside, for example. But none of that had felt right, and as much Chiron is a creature of logic and sound reasoning, he's not ignorant of the fact that some moments really demand whim be followed.]

What else have I missed in my absence?

[cheir]

[ Her grip loosens just a bit, if just so Fiore isn't just clinging to his waist like a fawning maiden, though the situation is still a strange one. ]

As promised, the homunculi were all given their freedom and a choice about their future-- many of them have left, understandably, but we have a few who wished to stay with us and help around the household.

Rider went on a journey-- er, Astolfo, that is. He said he was going to see the world for his Master's sake, but he's promised to come visit. If you're still-- that is--

[ ... She has no idea what Chiron's plans are, if he means to only visit and then return, but... ]

If you're still here, I'm sure he'd love to see you.

[horsepowered]

[Chiron is careful to not pick up speed at this point, even as he rounds the corner and the ramp come into view. It's not too much of a problem anyway - Fiore will be leaning forward because of the angle of the ramp.]

If it's possible for me to remain long enough for him to return, then I see no reason not to. He is....unique, and always will be.

[But there is a very important person missing from this list of where are they now.]

You haven't mentioned yourself, Fiore.

[cheir]

[ Hearing her name from him prompts an additional flush of warmth-- it's happiness, mainly, she's sure. "Master" was a title, and he'd used it as respectfully as any actual mage could have wanted, but her own name meant so much more to her. ]

Between the both of us, we should be able to help maintain your existence here for as long as you'd like. [ She addresses that first, her tone growing a little more somber. ]

... As for myself, I've been trying to decide on a path. I can't... be a mage, of course. [ Her heart may always break a little when she says it out loud, because she'd loved magecraft, loved learning, finding a source of strength that had been hers and hers alone. ]

But after my legs are fully recovered, I don't wish to stay here for the rest of my life, either. Everyone else has clearly figured out their next step, but...

[ She doesn't know. Right now, it's a hazy space before her and nothing's become clear. ]

[horsepowered]

[The first part feels more like a pleasantry. It isn't, it's all practical, but the texture of it remains.]

You have a wide open future, and plenty of time to decide it. [But to be unsure makes sense. Since time immemorial, she was meant to only be a mage, at the near exclusion of everything else. So to not know, to have the world be unclear, that's only natural.]

Tell me. What did you enjoy most of being a mage?

[cheir]

[ It's a good question, and Fiore's quiet for a minute as she turns it over in her mind. ]

... The confidence. Knowing that what I learned, I was going to be able to do amazing things with it, and taking so much pride in doing it right.

[horsepowered]

Hm.

[Chiron considers this as he heads down the ramp, considering. Considering. Considering....]

Was any of the magecraft you practiced similar to existing sciences?

[cheir]

I specialized in spirit evocation and human engineering... so I'm not sure how applicable any of that would be to the sciences, or how much of that is similar to actual engineering pursuits...

[ Mages are kind of bad at the outside world, too. She's still abysmal with technology. ]

[horsepowered]

Would human engineering translate to genetic sort of sciences?

[Chiron doesn't really know. This much is musing out loud, and soon enough, they're off the ramp entirely.]

Also, front door is in which direction...?

[cheir]

Right-- ah, as in, you turn right.

[ She's also thinking this through. ]

... I'll have to give this some more thought. I wonder if I'd be any good with genetics...

[horsepowered]

[He turns right, as instructed, and keeps moving along.]

There have to be books you can read to start with. Introductory sorts, which might help you find parallels with what you're already familiar with.

[Chiron doesn't look back, but there's a soft, confident hum.]

You'll find something. That much I know.

[cheir]

I don't think you'll ever stop being a teacher, Chiron. You speak with so much faith in me.

[ She says it with a small laugh, though, fondly. ]

I do have to say that I think I've learned more valuable things from you than any of my professors at the Clock Tower.

[horsepowered]

When have you ever proven unworthy of such faith?

[And here he does turn back, a smile on his face to show the sincerity of the question-that-isn't.]

I do have to wonder if some of that is because Clock Tower and mages in general insulate themselves so much from the rest of the world.

[cheir]

[ Fiore smiles back, a tad rueful. It's not a question he's expecting an answer to, she knows, so she focuses instead on his comment. ]

... We-- they dedicate themselves to a certain sort of lifestyle, and they're expected to hold it close and keep it within their lineage. It's to protect magecraft from dying out, and to prevent us from letting our blood become diluted by mingling with anyone not a part of a magus family...

[ Fiore pauses, because to say this much feels kind of like blasphemy, after the life she was born and raised into. ]

Maybe even back then, I was starting to disagree with it. If they found out we'd summoned you like this, so... flippantly, I can only imagine the consequences.

[horsepowered]

I do understand the logic and the reasoning behind it. I just...wonder if complete isolation is truly wise, in the long run. The world always seems to find ways to butt it's head into places where people try to keep things out.

[Perhaps it is blasphemy. Perhaps it's simply the opinion of someone who lived on a mountain but was not truly away and out of the world.]

It seems to me like the smarter thing ti do is to find a balance. Never mind the fact I'm here, that much would absolutely cause a stir.

[cheir]

I'll have to tell Caules not to mention it to the Association once he returns, but I'm sure he already knows that...

[ Her brother is definitely prepared, given how much he's been grumbling about it this whole week, but Fiore won't mention that. ]

I do think a balance would be ideal... although convincing them is another matter entirely.

[horsepowered]

It doesn't hurt to remind him, I agree.

[But he'll leave Caules be for now. Ahead Chiron can see the door that leads outside, and he picks up his pace just a little bit. Better to adjust to the speed now.]

Perhaps the only way to accomplish any of this is to be the example for others to follow, even if it means making mistakes.

[cheir]

[ Fiore wobbles a bit, but does her best to not just latch on to him again, working on maintaining a better sense of balance by leaning forward by a small amount. ]

You do realize that just by transferring my Magic Circuits to my brother, who didn't possess that kind of ability in the first place, no one is going to want to look at me as any sort of example.

[horsepowered]

I think you'll still turn some heads. [Again there's that confidence. They're at the door now, and Chiron's hands rest on the handle.]

And if not that, you'll have satisfied yourself. That's the most important part of the whole thing, I think.

[cheir]

[ It's still a confidence she doesn't quite understand, but she's since learned that he doesn't say anything he doesn't believe. Maybe one day she'll believe it herself. ]

... I'll try. I do think mages need opportunities to experience the world.

[horsepowered]

As someone who lived on a mountain for much of his life, I can say with confidence that it does a person good.

[With that, Chiron opens the front door, careful not to hit himself with it.]

Which part of the grounds should we explore?

[cheir]

[ To that, she smiles, moving one hand to give his flank a quick pat. ]

If you'd like to stretch your legs, how about all of it?

There's also a little copse of trees off to the north that you might like.

[horsepowered]

All of it seems plenty ambitious. Why don't we start in the north?

[As Chiron moves out into the open air, he's careful to actually figure out which way north is. More than that, his eyes sweep over the grounds, drinking in the landscape. It's one of the true pleasures of being summoned - seeing new parts of the world that are not Greece.

So north he goes, still at walking speed.]

Are you feeling comfortable enough for me to break into a run?

[cheir]

... If you won't find it troubling if I have to press myself against you...

[ She won't be able to grip with her legs, after all, and she'd hate to worry him with the thought of her possibly falling off. ]