Colin's posts

Vincent set the tea tray down on the table in front of her, and sighed.

"I received over 1500 submissions for someone to follow me on my dig in Egypt." he told her.

"It was nervewracking and mind-boggling, but I managed to narrow it down to 10." he went on.

"But I would like your help." he said.

"I need someone with an outside perspective on this." he continued.

"Can you skim the 10 applications and see if any jump out at you?" he asked her.

About a minute later, the door was opened, revealing her brother, Vincent.

"Ah, Hollie." he said.

"Thank you for coming." he told her.

"Come in, come in." he went on, stepping out of the way so she could enter.

"Care for some tea?" he asked.

"I have some of that heavenly Egyptian blend from my daughter."

Lex looked at the binder, and sighed.

"All right." he said.

"I'll give it a quick once-over." he told her.

"Make sure everything's all right." he went on.

He then picked up the binder, and pushed his book ahead a little, setting down the binder where it had been.

"You know, make sure every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed and such." he added.

And with that, he got to reading.

Alex managed to return the embrace before she let go, and then watched her leave the room... before lowering his head a little, and trying not to cry.

"...I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"I... this..." he stammered further, before catching his breath in his throat.

He looked at the food in front of him... before slowly continuing to eat, and sob lightly.

She was still in so much pain... but there was nothing he could do.

All he COULD do... was hope that she got accepting to accompany the archaeologist on their dig... and find a clue as to how she could remain whole once more.

"...why did this have to happen...?" he wondered aloud for the... who knew how many time, by now.

Aly paused.

"Cake?" she asked.

"Duh." Ryker replied.

"It's not a birthday without cake." he said.

"Ok, fair." Aly admitted with a small laugh.

"What kind is it?" she asked Eke.

"I know." Alex replied.

"I know it's not." he said.

"...just do whatever you feel you need to do." he told her.

"All I want is for you to be... happy..." he went on, biting his lip again.

"Or whatever comes closest to that these days." he mumbled.

"Anyway, go on." he then said.

"No need for you to be dragged down even further by me." he added, looking at her and forcing a smile.

"Good." Lex replied.

"As soon as you finish it, I'll submit it." he reiterated.

"Remember, the deadline is 2 months away." he reminded her.

"...anyway..." he then mumbled.

"You don't have to hang around here if you don't want to." he told her.

"If you'd rather be in your room, go on to it. Don't force yourself to interact with me or anything."

Again, Lex sighed.

"Yeah." he said.

"However, you need to figure out what your primary reason for going is." he told her.

"If it's just for the mama, then Aimee and I can try and arrange something." he continued.

"But. If this is truly something you want to do. Something you want to experience. Something you want to learn... then pour your heart into those papers, and I'll submit them for you." he went on.

"Who knows, the sooner you submit them, the sooner you may hear back."

"I'm sure they'll appreciate it." Lex replied.

"Thank you." he told her.

"....." he was then silent, pondering what she was saying, and how she was saying it.

There was more life in her tone, but... it still wasn't much.

At all.

He then paused for a moment, getting an idea.

"Ah." he said.

"The dig is in Egypt, right?" he asked.

"Ancient Egypt was steeped in mana, especially mana involved with the dead. If you're accepted, you may find a clue as to how to unlock your mana?" he suggested, hoping that would give her some hope again.

Aly was finishing up eating, and Ryker had just finished.

He then smirked at Eke.

"Went quite well." he said.

"Hm?" Aly mumbled.

"Just something between myself and my lady friend." Ryker told her.

Eke then noticed a small blush forming in Ryker's cheeks as he seemed to be thinking about her.

"......" again, Lex was silent.

"I see." he said.

"Okay then." he told her.

"Whatever you decide is best." he said further.

'...well, that was another dead end.' he thought.

'Is there truly nothing I can do?' he asked himself, biting his lip slightly.

He then took a bit of the food he'd been given.

"...quite good." he complimented her, taking another bite.

Lex paused when she said that.

He... it hadn't truly clicked for him.

Her best friends... Gregory... Cleo... she was now cut off from them.

'....how could I have been so blind!?' he mentally scolded himself.

"I..." he stammered.

"I can try and help you reach them." he said.

"I can use my own mana to create an area where you might be able to converse with them."

"............" Lex was silent for a moment, before lowering his head slightly.

"...why...?" he asked.

"Why have you shut down like this?" he asked her.

"I know I failed to protect you that day. I know I've failed to come up with a solution to this issue." he went on.

"I know it must be hard to have your mana shut down." he said further.

"...but... but is that why you've shut down? Why you're letting your health degrade?" he asked her.

"Does it all spawn from that day?"

Lex was silent as Madison said what she did.

"I do." he replied.

"A few." he went on.

"But I know that the chances of you answering them are slim." he continued.

"I also don't want to jinx anything." he then said further.

"But... since you've brought it up..." he mumbled, sighing quietly.

"Are you interested in what I showed you?" he asked.