deercountry | (no subject)

[ He has pretended not to be worried about her. Ozpin knows better than most that the death timeline is not an immutable thing, not a clearly-delineated resurrection. He only slightly regrets frightening everyone with that one long absence. He cannot begrudge Willow lingering in the sea, if that is where she is; he cannot take it as indication that she will not come back to them.

Still: when he opens the library door and sees who is in the foyer, relief breaks across his face like the dawn. ]

Willow. It's good to see you.

[It's a relief to see Ozpin as well, and to be back where she belongs. Trench has apparently brought with it a lot of change, and the last few days have been both confusing, and challenging. The mansion might not be exactly as she remembers it from Deerington, but it's still comfortingly familiar.

It still feels like home.

She smiles as she crosses the floor to join him.]

It's good to see you too. Sorry - I guess I'm probably a little later than expected.

[Faith awkwardly hangs back, leaning just outside the doorway with he arms crossed. She doesn't belong here. She's not even Willow's friend anymore, let alone a part of her little family unit. And now that Willow's back, Tara will probably be leaving too and Faith will be all on her own again.

She shifts slightly, trying not to be sad because sadness is a pathetic emotion and Faith is a stonecold bitch with no feelings.]

She was at uh... you know the guy with the black eyes who's real stingy with his name? Apparently he picked her up and took her to his place.

[ Black eyes has him on alert immediately. He picked her up and took her to his place does not help. For a moment, Ozpin's expression flickers to proper, startled concern. ]

The ship's captain— the man whose magic concerns skeletons? I've heard of him from Willow, yes. She has spent time with him before, but I've yet to have the pleasure of an introduction.

[ The eyes should not worry him as they do, and yet. ]

It's no trouble, Willow. [ His smile goes a bit more gently perplexed. ] Though you know you can always reach out to me by network. I am always glad to be of help.

Yeah - he said we already knew each other, and we were friends.

[Willow shifts uncomfortably as he reminds her she could have reached out through the network. She would have done so immediately if she could have, maybe even tried for a little joke about it becoming a habit for him to come escort her home after death.]

Well... I didn't really have a way to. I would've just come home on my own, or got him to bring me here, but...

[She purses her lips and lets out a sigh. She's looking for a way to put it delicately, to avoid raising the alarm too much. She's sure there's already been enough worry and upset on her behalf.]

Things are, um. A little muddled. About Trench, and the stuff that's happened here.

I call him Bones. He's real fuckin' shady, maybe kinda evil, but I think he's bizarrely sincere considering. I don't think you got much to worry about, Oz.

[She hopes not, anyway. They're all supposed to get a second chance here, right? She's evil, and she's giving it a shot. And the Doctor helped a great deal against the Leviathan, and more specifically helped her a lot.

It's not like the Doctor took away her memories, that's just the fucked up mechanics of death at work.]

She didn't remember where she lived. Had to show her.

[ For a moment he blinks in open astonishment; then it cools to worry. ]

Ah. So it seems the repercussions we knew in Deerington... may still be in effect. Though perhaps without the illness component. [ In a weak stab at levity: ] That, at least, may be some small relief.

[ But she knows as well as he does: the amnesia gets worse and worse every time. It does not fade quickly. And they have lost their usual means of intervention. ]

It, uh, kinda feels that way. I mean, I guess it could be just a coincidence, but that seems a little... too coincidental, you know?

[Willow manages a little smile at the attempt to remind her that at least she does not also have the flu. It's a small comfort under the circumstances, but she appreciates it all the same.

She glances in Faith's direction.]

I've, uh, been getting some of the story about what's been going on since January, but, uh, there's still a lot of blanks that could use filling in, I guess.

[There's a few biting remarks she could make at that. Some pointed at Willow 'Because I'm just so untrustworthy, aren't I?', some pointed at Ozpin 'Try not to lie this time.' Instead she chews on her lip and hunches in on herself with a sigh.

She looks between Willow and Ozpin.]

I can take a hint. I'll get out of your hair.

[Then more specifically pointed at Ozpin.]

I haven't explained the whole girlfriend situation. Better it comes from someone she trusts, y'know. I'll send her over in a bit. [And with that, she turns on her heel and begins to walk away.]

[ Ozpin's expression is perhaps best translated as oh, dear. But he inclines his head in a nod, shoulders set in the way of a man undertaking a difficult challenge, and he turns back to Willow. ]

Well. Even in the absence of the usual illness, we might sit down for a cup of tea or cocoa. If you'd care to join me in the library?

[Willow's expression turns puzzled as she looks between Faith and Ozpin. Is she surprised that Faith didn't tell her everything? Not exactly, but girlfriend situation is an unexpected development. She watches Faith go with a quiet sigh, and nods.]

Yeah - yeah, cocoa in the library sounds like a good idea. Maybe being back somewhere familiar will help too.

[She smiles faintly, and turns to head into the library to claim her usual spot. She knows it's a long shot, particularly if it's the same as the typical post-death amnesia from Deerington, but it feels important to try to maintain some sort of sense of optimism that the situation is only a temporary one.]

[ Once they are settled and he has the kettle on, Ozpin drops into the chair across from her— this, at least, shall be familiar— and slants an uncomfortable smile. ]

Very well. Perhaps most importantly, and first... I caution you that this is a delicate situation, and may be more difficult to navigate than it first appears. You may wish to listen to the whole story before you take any action. Trench has had an unpredictable impact on everyone present.

[ With all this preamble complete, he says, gently: ]

Tara is here.

[The familiarity remains a comfort, given how off balance Willow's return has left her feeling. She does trust Ozpin, after all. Far more than she trusts Faith, and more than she trusts the ship's captain who refuses to disclose his name.

His words are ominous, though, and for a moment, she's concerned until he breaks the news that Tara is here, and therefore not dead. She can't suppress the smile.]

Really?

[The smile fades after a couple seconds as she starts putting the pieces together. Tara is here. Faith had mentioned the 'girlfriend situation' and sending her over in a bit. Ozpin's warning that the situation is delicate. She swallows as it dawns on her that this does not sound like it's the happy news it ought to be.]

What, uh. What's going on? Is she okay?

[ He recognizes that dawning relief, the way grief lifts off her like a heavy weight. It is difficult to witness. He laces his fingers, dips his head. ]

For the most part, yes. But there are... two issues of which I'm aware.

The first is a power she is currently finding difficult to control. With a touch, she can sap emotions: she can inflict an emotionless state. While this would be a useful blessing upon Remnant, to have such little modulation of the power is certainly cause for caution and concern. We trust that she will work through it in time, but you must remember not to make direct contact.

[ He knows how cruel this piece of news is, and there is open pity in his expression. ]

The second is an effect we've not yet discovered the source of. It is not one I've discussed with Tara herself, though I have observed it on occasion. She seems to... get lost within herself, for moments at a time. You likened it to something that happened once under Glory.

This is why I say the situation is delicate. There's a great deal we're trying to fix.

[ He gentles again. ]

But she is here, and alive, and has been a part of our household for some months now. We have all been glad to have her.

[Tara is here, alive, and... perhaps not well, exactly, under the circumstances, but at least she is safe. There's nothing more that Willow wants in this moment than to be able to sweep her into her arms and reassure both of them that everything will be all right.

Except, from what Ozpin says, that can't happen. Not unless Tara can get her power under control, at any rate, and if she's been here for months, no doubt they've been trying to find a solution and are still coming up empty handed. The heartache of the news settles in like a physical pain, and Willow has to remind herself that Tara is here, and alive, and that's still a far better situation than her being lost forever.

She takes a deep steadying breath, and while her expression is clearly pained, she doesn't interrupt.

Word of Tara's mental state is a worry of a far different nature, and that they don't even know what caused it seems beyond bizarre. There's no doubt in Willow's mind Tara won't be able to control her power until they figure out how to help her stay grounded in the here and now. To do that, they need to find out what caused it in the first place. It would be a lot easier if she could use magic.

She lets out a breath and runs a hand through her hair.]

We'll figure it out. We have to.

[It's not a surprise that the rest of the household has welcomed her with open arms, but it still brings a small, but warm smile.]

Where is she now? Upstairs?

[ He watches it play across her expression, and his cracks back into open pity. But she stays seated, and reins in the sunny delight and shaken worry in equal measure. She grounds herself better than he might expect her to, and Ozpin subsides with a slightly easier set to his shoulders. ]

Not at the moment. For a little while now, she has been staying with Faith... as a means of keeping safe and away from other targets.

[ Because she cannot bear this place without you, he does not say. It seems kindest to pretend. ]

If you're feeling well enough recovered, I'm sure she'll be glad to see you.

She's staying with Faith?

[That's... not at all what Willow expected to hear, and it's beyond confusing. Tara has only ever briefly encountered Faith in Sunnydale, and it was not by any stretch a pleasant meeting. It takes her a second to remember that a lot has changed in the last few months, and apparently their friendship is a part of that change.

Willow still can't think of anywhere safer than this house, but wherever Tara would be most comfortable, she supposes. Maybe Tara just got nervous about Maul knowing where they lived.]

I want to see her too.

[She doesn't move, although it's sorely tempting to immediately retreat to go find her Omni and tell Tara she's back, and ask her to come home. There are other questions weighing on her mind too.]

Do you have any idea what happened? Seems like the going theory is that it was Maul...

Of course. I won't keep you much longer.

[ It is patient of her to stay here with him when Tara is just across town. He lets it sink in a moment, but his expression cools to worry at the question. ]

That is certainly where the evidence points. I'm afraid I know little of the details... or of what might come next. But it seems that threat is, unfortunately, not left behind us in the dream.

[It's probably just as well that Ozpin doesn't know a whole lot about her death; she's not sure she wants the details. Knowing it was Maul is plenty.]

Yeah... I heard he was able to break the curse we put on him, and kind of... went on the warpath.

[Willow rubs a hand across her forehead. She's been considering her next best steps over the past few days, knowing she hasn't been able to successfully cast a single spell since her first arrival. Maul isn't the only threat here, she's sure. She sighs.]

I, uh, guess I've been trying to figure out how to get my magic working again here for the last six months. I'm pretty dependent on it for defending myself, but maybe it's time to find another way too. Not that I'm giving up or anything, but you know. Just in case.

[She looks up at him and raises her eyebrows a little.]

I could use a good teacher.

[ Maybe it's time to find another way, she says, and he blinks openly at her. Then it sinks in, and a smile warms his face like sunrise. ]

I think that could be arranged.

[Willow breaks into a smile as well. It's not a surprise at all he's willing to help, but it's still appreciated all the same.]

Thanks. I fought a little at home without magic sometimes, but not often and it wasn't exactly my strong suit or anything.