"... You were struggling really hard," he said, "I think he managed to get to me first and then was just concerned with getting everyone he could cured. I'm just glad that um... well I'm not glad you had to get injured enough to chrysalize and thus purge the fungus, but I'm glad it was purged. But since I was so... Hm. Concerned about getting Comet away, I don't think she had a chance before Astraea got me. I should have gotten to you before Mad did- but with you trying to spread it as well, it was a risk."

James offered a bump of his nose to Tahi's shoulder, as if placing a hand there instead, and pulled away, "I think it was a matter of circumstance. It was stressful and just a mess for everybody- even if he's a master, he's a person too."

"I'm glad you're okay," he said softly.

@Tahi-shei

Tahi-shei shrugged, remembering the gruesome details alongside James. "I do not fault Madhukar for what she did. I'd have asked her to do it, if I'd been in my right mind." He sighed. "But I do suppose you're right. I don't know if Astraea could have been infected, but if anyone was in a position to try, it would have been me. I suppose I just didn't think about it that way," he admitted, leaning absentmindedly into James's touch.

He did laugh a little at the comment about Astraea being a person, too. "If only we could convince him of that, hm? When I first met him, he kept telling me that I could practice on him because nothing I could do would kill him, as though I couldn't still cause him harm." He sighed. "But I suppose that isn't anything I ought to be sharing."

Instead, he smiled. "I am also glad that I'm okay. I could... cause far more destruction in the name of Mother than I think most Gembound could." It was not lost on him that her abilities seemed to be the same as his.


@james

James huffed, "If only."

He rubbed Tahi's back and smiled sympathetically, "Perhaps. All the better that you're here and not there. Besides, you may be powerful on her side, but mostly because you have the ability to purge her from others."

He nuzzled his shoulder gently, eyes closing. He relished the presence of the other for a moment before lifting his head.

"You know what? You're the best deer I've ever known," he said, "Astraea has nothing on you, Tahi."

He nudged the other gently and smiled, "I'm glad you're my friend."

And James truly was. There was no one else like Tahi. There was just something in his eyes, a soul that was kind and soft. Like his own, almost.

@Tahi-shei

His ears twitched to show that he'd heard James, but he didn't really reply. The sentiment was nice, but it was also... a lot, and his chest seized up a little bit. Better? How could he be better with this Collector quest hanging over his head? Whether he'd done it yet or not, eventually he'd have to kill someone (and the Collector had made himself clear -- sooner rather than later). There was blood on his stone already, and he certainly slept like it. And to even compare him to Astraea--? Astraea, the Fungal Master. Powerful, astronomically so, leagues higher than anything Tahi-shei could ever hope to achieve -- a lifetime of study and careful planning would never, ever put him on Astraea's level. It couldn't. Astraea was just too powerful in comparison.

But the similarities were there, he thought, recalling the moment of dullness in Astraea's eyes when he'd explained that he was used to being hurt. Recalling the insistence that Tahi-shei could practice, could improve, and he couldn't help but think he'd offer the same to Madhukar even if it killed him. Madhukar had killed him.

He laughed a little nervously, and glanced back at James. "I mean, I don't know if, uh, I should really be compared to Astraea. He's... y'know. The Fungal Master. That's, uh, a lot of magic to have."

Tahi-shei didn't even address the declaration of friendship, the way it coiled like a knot in his stomach and settled there to be addressed at a later date when he wasn't worried about starting to shake so badly he sprinted all the way to Canis and back again.


@james

James huffed, "Character speaks a lot more about someone than strength. Vargas is known for his strength and power- yet he's a brute to many of us. Astraea has power, but he's... I don't know, boring? He cares, yes, but I don't think I could hold a conversation for very long without feeling awkward. That kind of power blinds the eyes to what lays underneath. I tend to try to look past that as often as I can."

He worked his jaw, wondering how to continue, to tell Tahi that he was just simply... interesting.

"You're a puzzle," he said, "A puzzle in which the pieces lay in boxes locked shut. First the keys need to be found, the boxes unlocked, and the puzzle put together. There are things about you that are obvious, the keys, the things that require a bit of work to find, the boxes, and then there are the things I've yet to even begin to piece together. The puzzle."

He looked up and smiled gently, nudging him, "Magic can't solve a puzzle like you. Not that your abilities don't impress, and that mine aren't also impressive, but that's not all there is to us. Do you understand?"

In all honestly, ability wasn't something he'd ever been concerned about. Kindness and determination and the spirit and heart to do the right thing was a value he looked for in others. He was excited to find out if Tahi had that in him.

@Tahi-shei

Tahi-shei... genuinely had no response to that, and sort of just felt overwhelmed. James was being incredibly kind, but all Tahi could think was you don't want to see the whole picture. He laughed a little nervously, and scraped for some kind of appropriate response. He felt a lot like running right now -- sprinting at a mad dash through Tunnel K like Overseer-Alpha was chasing him and find a way to be okay with himself. Exhaust himself so that he couldn't think about anything except sleeping.

He finally managed a strangled sort of "Y-You too?"

Hoof, meet mouth. Wonderful, Tahi-shei. Just absolutely wonderful.


@james

James blinked, then snorted, then burst out laughing, covering his mouth with his wing as he giggled uncontrollably, until the breath left his lungs and he struggled to breathe again.

When he finally sucked in a breath he wiped his eyes and spoke, "Oh my gosh- I really didn't mean to laugh, I'm so sorry... normally I'm the one who doesn't know what to say, it's like the tables have turned!"

He sniffed and lifted his head again, eyes sparkling with glee, "That was... adorable."

The joint of his wing, where a hand would start on a normal limb, lifted up to touch Tahi's cheek, as if he were patting it gently, still giggle-snorting quietly.

"Goodness- I hurt after that," he complained lightly, "Um... do you want to stay the night?"

It would be rude to turn the other away, especially now that the lights were starting to go out. He was expecting that Comet would find a place to nap wherever she was, so there was space.

@Tahi-shei

He smiled shyly and shook his head at James's offer. "Uhm, no, I-- already kind of turned you down for that," he said awkwardly, glancing outside the walls of the mostly stable stone structure. He shifted a little. "I'll, uh, get out of your hair so you can sleep, though! I've-- got stuff to do," he lied, still flustered (more so, now that James was fussing over him) and desperate to get somewhere safe-ish and shove these feelings down, thank you very much. Still, he smiled again, trying to seem less eager to leave than he really was. James was nice, and Tahi did really like him, he was just... well, a little bit intense.

@james

"Oh... sorry," he said, embarrassed, "Um... thank you for coming. If you want, you can visit whenever you want!"

James fluffed his feathers and smiled, "Have a good night, Tahi."

Not insisting or anything, he walked Tahi to the door, offering a wing out, touching the other gently as a show of support. He shook out his tail feathers and stepped back through the doorway, offering a gentle wave and another smile.

"Visit soon?", he asked more than he said, tail swaying.

@Tahi-shei

His eyes softened a little. "Of course, James. I'll visit you in a little while. Maybe I'll drop by to meet the little one, when they're born." He smiled and dipped his head before getting up carefully and starting towards the exit, his mind still buzzing. Seeing James again was a nice idea -- a really nice idea. He breathed in and out for a moment, and then left.

This was something he'd need to meditate on later.


@james
/exit tahi-shei, unless stopped