[THD] Burning ambition? [Niko]

Lario sensed that it was around midday as he morphed back from his flame form at the centre of the Incin shrine. He estimated that he had spent five or six days in his elemental form this time, and this time, he knew he had been meditating on how it would feel to be trapped and unable to change back of his own will. That poor child. As he wrapped his thick robes warmly around himself, the Harbinger was once again wondering if there was anything that had been overlooked, anything that could possibly help the girl who was now a tree in the Madin shrine. And, if not her, then her friend who had been making regular visits. Lario hadn't missed the worn, desperate look on the boy's face but had been unable to think of any words of comfort.

He was still mulling over the situation as he walked stiffly through the corridors that led to the main living area. Lunch would be served around this time, and having not eaten for almost a week, he had a desire for some spiced soup, perhaps with a thick slice of freshly-baked bread. Despite the sadness that quietly hung in the air, life went on and there were a dozen or so elementals of varying ranks and ages already seated in the dining room. Lario joined a table where four or five youngsters (in that they were under forty) were seated and was greeted with a mixture of respect and affection. He remembered teaching gaelic to all of them in his time. And there was soup, not as hot as he would have chosen but the pots of black pepper and chilli flakes on the table soon rectified that. There were jugs of iced water (which he ignored), fruit juice and a smaller one which steamed interestingly. Lario naturally reached for it, not noticing the panicked look on the face of the young woman sitting opposite as he poured about half the liquid into his glass.

It was delicious, hot and spicy with the delicious scent of liquorice and an aftertaste of something like honey. The old man smiled happily, a sudden feeling of how very fond he was of all his fellow elementals spreading through him. Not just the ones gathered here, not even just the elementals, but all wizards...all people...the whole world. He was seized with a desire to tell everyone how wonderful they were, what a perfect world they lived in. But not here - everyone in this room surely already knew how blessed they were. Draining the glass, his soup forgotten, Lario rose from his seat, turned and saw his fellow Incin @Nikodim Balaur.

"Nikodim, my friend!" he exclaimed, enveloping the younger man in an uncharacteristic and most unexpected hug "Do you ever feel the urge to just...tell everyone how wonderful they are, how grateful you are to know them...how much you...love them?" He beamed happily around the room where people were starting to whisper to each other.

Niko had been sitting in the Madin shrine, speaking softly to the tree which had recently been transplanted there after a horrible act of violence at Hogwarts. Having Madin as a second affinity meant that the Incin had known Linnett before she had been seemingly transformed into a tree with no way to shift her back despite the effort of a number of experienced elementals to shift her back. While it was certainly a sad time for the council, Niko wasn't as troubled as some others seemed to be. He remembered how long Demeter had been caught in various plant forms when she was terribly injured or under great duress. Since they could still sense the faint consciousness of the young girl, Niko knew that she would eventually emerge again. How long this might take, he could not begin to guess. But he had faith in Linnett. She was stronger than people might think, and if the young man who came to see her almost every da was any indication, she might have a few things worth coming back to.

As the morning wore on, he decided he would head to the dining room rather than make food for himself in the small hut where he lived when staying on council grounds. It was nice to have his own space, a relic from when he was likely to burn down the dorms if eh lost control of himself at night, but the company of others was welcome, especially with the way the air seemed heavy with worry and sorrow. He was especially glad he had decided on coming to the public eating space once he saw that his friend and mentor was out of his elemental form for the first time in a week. "Harbinger," Niko called, smiling warmly at the older Incin. His smile became a bit confused as he was embraced by Lario. It was unlike the older man to assail anyone with affection, even Niko. True, the older man had practically raised him after he came to the council at fifteen, but he was never so effusive.

"Are you feeling well, Lario?" Niko was a little concerned for his friend. "You are, umm, unusually chipper this afternoon. Did you have a nice rest in the Incin shrine?" Niko was at a loss as to what was going on.

"I am. It is quite, quite wonderful to be alive, don't you agree?" Lario enthused, his Spanish accent becoming more pronounced as he spoke. There was a smile on his face now as he looked fondly at the youngsters still sitting at the table where he had been moments earlier, unconcerned as to why they were now whispering fiercely amongst themselves. The Harbinger was oblivious to the fact that he had unwittingly proved that indeed, love potions from Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes did indeed work on elementals, though apparently not with the same focus as for ordinary wizards. Even had he realised, at that moment Lario would not have scolded or been upset with the youngsters. Far more likely he would have embraced them and admired their curiosity in wishing to learn something new.

Something new...

"Do you know how long it has been since I left these hallowed walls?" he asked, and it wasn't entirely a rhetorical question. "Years...it has been years..." Even for someone who was closing on his second century and had seen most of his family die of old age, that was a log time. And now he thought of it, Lario wanted to go outside, to visit a town, to see ordinary people, to appreciate them before it was too late. Maybe even sit in a cafe and drink a cup of steaming hot ginger tea for a couple of hours. It was a wild, bizarre thought and he voiced it to Nikodim in enthusiastic tones before walking from the hall with a stride that belied his age. It was the potion coursing through his veins that gave him the drive to move quickly, but before the younger man could think to follow he had left the hall.

He went to his own small room, a tastefully but plainly decorated place that held a comfortable chair and table beside the South-facing window, a bookcase, a small closet and a writing desk. No bed, for who needs a bed when you spend most of your time as a pillar of flame? Lario selected a cloak that was a deeper red than he normally wore, one he hadn't used in a couple of decades but had been kept magically clean and fresh, and struggled to wrap it around age-stiffened shoulders. In the end he gave up and simply carried it over one arm, heading on his way back to meet his younger friend.

"Are you ready for adventure?" he asked in the same cheerful tones when they were facing each other once again.

"Yes?" Niko replied, still more than an little confused by Lario's vivacious behavior. The old Incin was nothing if not reserved and tranquil. This kind of emotional upheaval was entirely exceptional. As far as Niko was concerned, Lario had been born old. He'd never known his long-time friend and mentor to be quite so light hearted and, well, bouncy. In a way, he found it almost as upsetting as Linnet's condition. At least he knew the cause of her...

Wait, cause...

As Lario made a hasty exit from the hall, Niko turned to the muttering young elementals. Almost as one they froze, more than a hint of terror in their faces. Niko cut an imposing figure, and there was hardly a young initiate who passed through these halls that hadn't been his student in some capacity or another. This group of thirty-somethings was no exception. They all tried to school their faces to innocence but Niko could smell mischief from a mile away. The youngest one looked to be a Hor elemetal, and Niko focused his gaze on that poor victim. They cracked, and cast a frantic look at the small pitcher. Niko picked it up and sniffed it, recognizing the smell of a love potion. It was hardly uncommon for someone to try them.

He gave the table a stern look, but he was trying not to bust up laughing. It was a harmless prank, as far as he was concerned. Niko wasn't about to drag them before the Harbingers for this, but he would have to keep an eye on Lario for at least a few hours to make sure he was alright. "Be more careful next time," he growled at them in Gaelic, all of them nodding furiously.

Once Lario returned, Niko carefully helped the older man settle the cloak around his shoulders. "You'll catch cold, Lario," he cautioned, "if you don't wear your cloak." He blinked slightly. "Is that a new cloak? I don't recognize it..." He shook his head free of the distraction. "I am a Zealot. I am always ready for adventure," he replied seriously, but with a little grin on his lips. "Where do you want to go, Lario?"

Nikodim was such a marvellous friend, helping to fasten the cloak around his shoulders. Had the younger man guessed that he was feeling rather stiff today and needed the assistance? It was so kind of him to turn the offer into something that sounded merely conversational. "This one? No, it's probably older than half the young folk in there" he said wth a chuckle, nodding back in the direction of the hall where lunch was still taking place. He might have said something more, but the desire to get out and appreciate more of this wonderful world was steadily increasing.

"Oh, I don't know. Out! Inverness, perhaps? There was a pleasant cafe there that sold particularly hot tea the last time I was there...hmm..." the old man mused as he walked down the corridor "although that was in...I believe nineteen seventy three, so it's possible they are under different ownership by now..." Or indeed they might have retired years ago, or the cafe have been replaced by a night club; Lario not being very up to date with the modern world. But he was blissfully unaware of this as he stepped outside the Council headquarters for the first time in years.

The paths here were still as familiar as they had been decades earlier, and despite it being close to the end of summer, almost autumnal, the Sun was bright and casting warm rays across their route. Lario had assumed that this area would be deserted, it was a walk of half an hour or more to reach the inhabited regions of Inverness, but there seemed to be a group of a dozen or more people somewhere in the distance. "I wonder what those young folks are up to? Enjoying the beautiful sunshine, I shouldn't wonder," he commented as they walked along the path. Whatever they were doing, someone with younger eyes would have noticed that they were armed with muggle cameras and autograph books, chattering eagerly amongst themselves.

Nikodim chose to follow behind Lario, letting the other Incin lead the way. He was also making sure he could keep an eye on him in case he decided to hare off in his intoxicated state. Luckily their element had a hard time moving about in their pure elemental form. If the older man had been a Typh, he might be halfway to Beauxbatons by now. Niko clearly cared for Lario, and he dreaded the day he finally returned to the flame in the shrine for the last time. He would miss his wise council and his insight and his calm demeanor. He truly loved the older man like a grandfather. Losing the Madin harbinger had been hard enough on him, but losing Lario would tear new wounds in the deep places that were slow to heal.

He shook his head, dismissing those dark thoughts. Lario was here, alive and exceptionally peppy. He was glad for every moment and he wonder how much he'd be able to tease the older Incin about this once he was returned to his senses in a few hours time. It was better to simply let this run its course naturally. And on the upside, it got both of them off of council grounds. Niko was certain it had been at least a decade since Lario had been more than ten miuntes from the Incin shrine. As Harbinger, it wasn't unusual for him to spend the majority of his time at Council, but it would do him good to get out.

The walk was uneventful and the day promised to be the same, that is until they passed behind a group of muggles carrying black, boxy things and looking around, murmuring excitedly among themselves. One turned and caught Niko's eye. Wanting to be polite, he smiled and the young woman's eyes went wide. She was practically vibrating with energy as she pointed her boxy thing their way and pressed her finger down on the top of it, making it click. At the sound, all of the muggles adjacent to her turned and one shouted enthusiastically, "IT'S RHAMSHTHAM!"

Niko had only a moment to wonder what was a Rhamshtham when the whole crowd turned as one and began advancing on them. "Time to go!" He said to Lario in Gaelic before guiding the older Incin down an alley in an attempt to lose the slowly-moving mob.