milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Wesley Wyndham-Pryce is outside, a short distance away from the lake. He's found a clear patch of ground and has marked several arcane symbols on it. Candles are set at compass points--or at least where they would be if Wesley was trying this anywhere within light years of Earth.

That may account for the distinct lack of enthusiasm he's showing as he goes about the preparations for his ritual. He doubts he has any chance at all of determining where Illyria has been these past few weeks. But pointless as this spell is, it's time-consuming and difficult, and that at least has helped a couple of days go by.

Once again, being in Milliways is only making something more difficult. He really is starting to wonder how much longer he'll be able to keep mustering the extra effort required for doing almost anything in this place.

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"Yes. I gather the length of time varies, and at least in the case of the living, the person is eventually allowed to leave. As for the dead, well, their end is probably more final."

Wesley starts to break down the circle as he says that. Best not to dwell on the thought too much. Not because he fears it, but rather because he can feel a certain pull toward it.

She shrugs again.

"Sometimes."

X-men have a habit of coming back.

So does X-23 herself.

"Yes, true enough."

Wesley's expression darkens even more. Death wasn't actually all that final back on his world either. Given the number of beings he knew who had come back from it, to not be allowed to do the same was just another slap in the face.

He might be used to that sort of thing by now, but that didn't make the consequences any easier to 'live' with.

X-23 does not quite frown.

"You have died more than once?"

"No. Only the one time. But I know many--." He chokes for a moment.

"I know many people who have."

X stays silent for a few moments, watching him.

Then--

"People die."

She knows that very well.

Wesley glances at her sharply, but seeing that her comment was not at all intended as a joke, he nods.

"Yes, they do."

He finishes collecting the last of the items from the circle, and draws shut the small bag he put them into. Then takes a few seconds to erase the last traces of the circle itself before standing quietly again.

"I think I'm going to go rest now."

She nods once, accepting that.

X-23 is also aware that she makes people uncomfortable, though Wesley does not quite seem to be one of those.

"You do not need help?"

"No."

"...But, thank you."

He starts to walk away, back to the bar, but pauses to look back over his shoulder toward--though not precisely at--her. "You're not exactly catching me at my best. I hope we have a chance to talk again."

And with that he heads back for his room.

She would not mind that, either--difficult as that might be to tell from her demeanor.

As it is, she spends the next little while investigating where the circle used to be.

Just to be thorough, of course.

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