I dream of gardens in the desert sand

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

WHO: false_oracle, innerflow, closed
LOCATION: Agrabah; just out in the desert.
TIME: Around noonish on Saturday, the 24th of September.
WHAT: Magus has gone to Agrabah; Mercury is there. Line-facing will ensue.
RATING: Ah, PG-13? Possible R, but I doubt it.


For a number of reasons, and not just because he wanted to find a place for himself and Schala to start a new life, Magus had been learning about the other worlds around and visiting them. And while he had found that he could teleport to other worlds, it would leave him drained for a while. As such, he had been taking such explorations at a slow pace.

His current exploration was Agrabah. He has intended to arrive in the city of the land, but he had never been there before and pinpointing his teleportation from this distance was a fool's game. Which is what landed him in the middle of the desert.

Of course, for all of his magic and all of his power, it was still draining on his power to teleport like this. It took him a moment to gather himself after arrival, which gave time for several Crimson Jazzes to appear, hopeful to pray on the dark heart of the weakened mage.

Comments

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

"I haven't seen a lot of it, but it's very beautiful. It's Middle Eastern in style; almost Persian. It has tiled courtyards and pools and gardens that are just wonderful. A lot of effort must go into keeping them."

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

He stares at her during her descriptions. Middle Eastern? Persian? What are these things?

Not that he's going to admit this.

"Show me."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

"It's along the main streets. This way." Mercury headed towards the palace - one of the key landmarks of the city, of course. It's tall domes stood out against the sky before they even went very far. "It's just ahead."

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

He walks along. It is too hot and too dry. He hopes that Schala will not want to live in this place.

He looks up at the palace as they approach. It is... gaudy, to his mind, and his face, although hidden by the cowl, likely shows it.

"The domes, I take it."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

She nodded. "It's hard to believe. It's like a treasure chest suddenly in the middle of the sand."

A flush threatened as she realized how much it made her sound like her head was entirely in the clouds.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"A treasure chest full of brass trinkets," he said, unimpressed by the domes.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Magus, clearly, was far more prosaic. It made her all the more embarrassed for getting carried away with herself.

"It doesn't seem to suit you," she ventured cautiously; he certainly didn't seem impressed or pleased by the surroundings. Perhaps a different world would be better after all.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"No, it does not." Of course, he was the only one who thought the Rainbow Shell was drab.

"I will show Schala Disney Castle instead of this place as you..." he pauses and smirks at her. It's coldly amused and a bit dark. "I mean, Ami suggested."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

"I still don't know anything about that," she lies - very badly. Her nervous posture, the red in her cheeks, all give it away.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"You are a bad liar, Mercury." His smirk grew.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

She really was. But it was important to keep their identities secret.

Wasn't it? Or could they, ultimately, do more good here if they were known? But their enemies were here, too. And other enemies might show, who would take advantage of it. Besides, it wasn't just her decision to make.

"I'm not trying to deceive you." That much, at least, was true; that wasn't her reason for denying it. It was that simple protection and safety.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

He took a few steps towards her. "Then," he said, lowering his voice to a cold and almost teasing tone. "You should learn to not give it away so easily."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Instinct makes her defensive; she subtly angles herself to be ready if he attacks.

"Please don't pry into this sort of thing."

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"I am not prying. I simply dislike being lied to."

And that is all it is, but he backs off from her.

"Especially from one who expects me to teach them."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[He's not wrong to want the truth. She glances away.]

My secrets are secret for a reason. Can I trust you with them?

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

He crosses his arms and studies her for a moment.

"Yes."

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

"I'm Mizuno Ami. These identities are for my own protection, and to protect my loved ones, from my enemies." She carefully says 'my' rather than 'our'; no need to point him to more of the painfully obvious.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"I see."

He looks up at the domes again. At least she has a reason for hiding her identity.

"I take it you have comrades who are doing the same thing as you are?"

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

"Answering that makes anyone near me a target either as those comrades, or as a weaker person unlikely to defend themselves. I can't answer." There's at least that tiny shred of safety in not knowing which - or who.

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

"Then should I find someone who has such power shielding their true form as with you, I will refrain from calling them out on it."

Don't question it, Mercury.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

She has no intention of questioning it. Instead, she says, "Thank you."

"Please understand, I truly wasn't saying those things for the sake of being deceptive by itself."

[false-oracle.livejournal.com]

He waves her off dismissively.

"I will return to Traverse Town. Contact me when you wish to begin learning."

With that, he wrapped himself in his cloak again and was gone.