[PRP] A Cold Day in Hell

[[Quo]]

Finally... Quo thought as he sifted through another pile of books in the dusty library Some peace and quiet to find a good tome to read. I rarely get any time to enjoy these things as of late. At that point, Quo could only be accused of understating what was going on. A recent flood of discoveries of creation orbs had left all the magi swamped determining who would get what enchantments granted or not. Not like it was really his problem, as most of the people were asking for enchants that only Ergo could perform. A twinge - almost a nervous tick of sorts - was set off when Quo even thought the name aloud. Where although he didn't mind having some time to enjoy the finer things in life ... away from Aetas even more of a plus ... it really got under his skin that Ergo would prove to be more useful to the council than certain others...say... oh Quo, for instance.

"Not like it should be any of my business really." Quo comforted himself aloud, "It's mostly just simpletons that would rather dive for the cutest thing they could think of instead of something powerful." Granted he failed to recognize the fact he was still needing to talk to Ergo about his own request for a tengu at some point. After all... that would mean he had to admit to being a hypocrite... wouldn't it?  

[[Ergo]]

Distant sobs, muffled by a thousand tomes of text, drew closer quickly. A flash of white hair between wooden bookshelves. A suddenly crash of noise, and a few leather bound volumes skidded across the floor to where Quo was. A gloved hand sprang forward after them and Ergo hurried into the room, a few books and a creation orb in hand messily as if he'd transferred them there to free the other to pick up the items he dropped. He snatched up one book and lifted his hand. The last thing anyone expected to see was the younger magi crying! Wet trails ran down his face and he abruptly paused seeing Quo. He had been too loud crying to hear anyone else. He whipped around quickly, trying to hide the fact he was crying, but there were more books to pick up anyway. Retort with anything! Ergo's mind plead with him. He couldn't be seen this weak, especially to Quo!
 

[[Quo]]

The silence of the library was shattered in two fold... first by the sobs of the youngest magi on council and second by the crash of books that had sent up another cloud of dust. Well, speak of the devil Quo thought to himself, trying to remove the small grimmace off his face for having his peace disturbed.

Normally he'd probably pass this off with some smug comment to be disparaging of Ergo... but what was this? The brat actually crying?!? This needed some further investigation before he could make any proper remark. Clearing his throat a little Quo took on a look of pure concern - so what if it was a false concern? What the brat didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Yet.

"Erm... Is everything alright... cr-- Ergo?"  

[[Quo]]

Quo's teal eyes betrayed a slight sense of surprise at the words Ergo shot back at him, but he quickly let that pass to hide his interests. "You're right," Quo started carefully, "normally I wouldn't care about you or anything in regards to you. However, the fact that you're sitting here crying and acting moody openly suggests that something is really wrong. So why don't you get it off your chest already so you can go back to being your typical annoying self that everyone seems to rely on?"

Taking the orb in his hands slightly confused, Quo looked at Ergo quizzically. "Erm... what were you trying to create from this orb anyway?" He stared at the way the orb caught the candle light and watched it dance across the surface before he closed it within his hand.

"Fine... if I see Riven, I'll pass a message for you... but doesn't he keep in contact with you more?" Quo suddenly remembered that Riven didn't talk to him as much as he stayed around Ergo all the time. Something was definitely up and Ergo needed to spill.  

[[Ergo]]

Ergo sighed, slumping over a bit. "I'm too busy to create something with it, and the person didn't specify what they wanted anyway." He turned his head enough that Quo could see his entire face. He must have been going on like that for awhile because his violet eyes were tinged with red. "Riven wasn't in bed this morning," Ergo quickly covered his tracks, "..and don't make any funny faces about that... He always sleeps in my bed." He idly gathered the books as he spoke instead of looking at Quo. He could convince himself he was talking civilized to someone else. "It's supposed to today....

.. and Riven can't touch water. It burns him. So I'm just a .. little... worried."  

[[Quo]]

Well... since he mentioned his limitations first I guess it's fine if I mention mine.Quo thought pulling out his own creation orb that was passed to him. "Actually..." Quo hesitated to even mention such a thing. His worst nightmare was relying on Ergo for help - well... more being stuck in the same room as Aetas for more than an hour but that was besides the point, "...I was wondering if we could do a trade then. The orb I was passed... as odd as this sounds... is interested in becoming a tengu. However... I'm not able to do that. Could I ask you for your help?"

It didn't make much about why Ergo should be so worried, but he looked like he needed comfort. Unfortunately no one else was there to give it. This also meant no one else was there to witness Quo being nice to Ergo either, which wasn't so bad. "I'm sure Riven noticed the clouds in the air and will stay out of the rain. If I do happen to see him, I'll mention that you're looking for him and would like to see him. However... at the same time, maybe giving him some time to think for himself might be good too?"