milliways_bar | (no subject)

Megywn trots through the painting. She is unpartnered, but is clearly Mind-speaking someone.

::I hope she's in tonight. She can explain things much better than I can...::

Spotting Kero, she brays happily and goes over to her. ::Over here!::

*Tom rather reluctantly follows Megwyn into the bar, but he is curious despite himself. Megwyn has been going on about this Kero person, and he truly wants to hear more about Valdemar and Ingress's fate from someone more, well, human shaped, to be honest.*

I'm coming.

*Keorwyn turns when she hears Megwyn. She smiles*
Hello Megwyn.
*she notices the man with her*

Who's your friend?

Megwyn looks at Kero as seriously as possible. ::This is Tom Riddle. He's one of Ingress's caretakers. Can you tell him about Valdemar?::

Gladly.

*she turns to Tom and smiles*

What would you like to know?

*Tom crosses his arms, looking straight into Kero's eyes.*

Considering I know nothing of your world, or of Heralds or Companions besides what Megwyn has told us, everything would be a good start. You must know that while I realize Ingress has been made very happy by Megwyn's presence in her life, I do not fancy sending her away to a world I have never been to and know nothing about.

Truly, I should like Ingress's sister, Door, to be here for the explanations. She was delayed in London Below.

*Speak of the devil.

Door comes in through the House of Arch painting and hurries over to the group.*

Tom? what's going on?

Megwyn wants us to speak with someone from her world who's shown up here. I believe she's called Kero.

::Yes. Lady Door, this is Kerowyn. Kerowyn, this is Door, Ingress's older sister.::

[ooc: Okay ignore that deleted comment. Kero's mun has lots of threads going and got lost. I didn't see Door]

Door, Tom, it's very nice to meet you.
Everything is a lot to explain. I'm not sure where to start first.
How much do you know about the bond between Ingress and Megwyn?

*Door watches Kerowyn through narrowed eyes.*

We know that they have a mental connection, and that supposedly if one of them dies the other will as well. We know the things Megwyn claims, and that Ingress appears to be happy.

As Door says this, Megwyn's ears prick up. ::Excuse me, but Ingress is calling. I hope you learn what you need to.:: She nods to the group, then sets off for the painting.

Alright. You need to know it's more than just a mental connection. It's a soul bond. It can't be broken and it connects them in ways that I'm still learning about myself.
I was Chosen a couple of years ago. It's quite a change from being a mercenay captain, but I would NEVER give up Savil, my Companion. I can't imagine life without her.

That's all stuff we've heard from Megwyn.

All we know is that Ingress was... "chosen" at the age of six, and now she has to go off to an entirely different world and put her life at risk for a country that she has no ties to.

*Tom puts an arm around Door's shoulders to show her support, but truthfully it is helpful for him as well. Although he has more or less come to terms with having Megwyn as a part of their household, the thought of Ingress leaving them is still very troubling.*

*Kerowyn sighs. She doesn't want to sugar-coat things for these people. That's not what she does.*

How do I explain this when I'm not sure I understand it myself. I didn't understand when Eldan explained it to me. I could never understand his desire to fight for a Country. Fighting for money made sense. There was a reason.

She does. I won't lie to you and say that a Herald's life is easy. But there is a reason she was Chosen. Companions don't make mistakes.

To tell you the truth, I didn't understand it myself. I'm not from Valdemar. I'm from a country to the south, Rethwellan. I was a merc. I fought for money and because I was good at it. It made sense.
When I first met a Herald I couldn't understand why anyone would want to fight for something as ambiguous as a country. I'm still learning.
Ingress isn't going to be leaving anytime soon. She's too young. Most Heralds are 12 or so when chosen. You still have quite a lot of time with her. And we do give trainees time off. She will be able to come back for visits.

*Tom looks troubled. *

Our good friend is a witch from my world. She is an Auror - a soldier-witch. If she ever tires of her job, she can quit. Ingress will never get that choice, it would seem. This is her fate whether she likes it or not, whether her world needs her more than yours. I don't like that one bit.

*He is trying very hard not to lose his control over his temper.*

What does she have to look forward to, besides a life of training and servitude? Does she get any chance at a normal life? Will she ever be able to fall in love, marry, have children of her own, or is it just her and her Companion until the end of her days?

It's not fair. And I don't like it.

*His eyes flash with his anger at the circumstances, but he takes a deep breath and waits patiently for a response.*

Quite frankly, you don't have to like it. Life isn't fair. That's the way it is. Only Ingress has to like it. Her Companion would never force her to do anything that truly made her miserable.

Heralds fall in love, they can marry, they have children. A Companion only adds to everything. That bond brings more joy into your life than I can explain in words. What exactly is a "normal" life?
A Herald's life, it isn't a life of servitude. One of the important things about a Herald is a sense of duty. They serve because they want to. To not do so would be unthinkable. They have gifts that others do not. They can use them to accomplish a greater good. They know this intrinsically.
As for whether my world needs her more than hers. I don't think that has anything to with it. Being Chosen isn't just a one-way street. Most likely something about Valdemar, being a Herald, something, is important for her.

*Tom raises an eyebrow, still extremely skeptical.*

It's hard to take you at your word. We just don't know - we don't know who you really are, or what your world is really like. It's a huge leap of faith. I will never be comfortable with the idea until I see the place with my own eyes. I am not a trusting man, and I fear I will never be.

*He squeezes Door's shoulder.*

I've had my own experience with bonding of a sort, recently. I can begin to understand what it's like for Ingress, at least. It does make a difference to know she has the opportunity to know love, to be close to others.

*The anger fades from his eyes and is replaced by sadness.*

It's just... so far away. She's a very special little girl, and she's dear to me. In my life, this is a new thing - I never cared for people until I met Door. To have one of the ones I love taken away, even in several years, hurts.

*Tom looks around the crowded, noisy bar and then back to Kerowyn. He and Door exchange a glance. This is not the best place to discuss this.*

Look, why don't we go somewhere more private to continue. You may come with us to our home, if you'd like.

*He winces ever so slightly.*

I'm sure Ingress would like to meet you.

(ooc: And the muns all say, "wah, must sleep now" - conversation will be continued.