attn: Mordred, re holiday, ja ja? ,

[blind_judgment]

If it isn't the hottest day of the summer, it certainly comes near it; the vast, cloudless sky is so bright a blue as to seem almost white, and there is a hazy veil of dust hanging in the still, hot air. It's the kind of day when all sane people should be lying perfectly still in some dark, window-covered room somewhere with a cool glass of iced

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[illgotten]

Mordred, as it happens, is coming back in the other direction, sweaty and surly, having searched the Mansion for his errant brother. He manages a not-entirely-ill-humored grimace for Niko. "Hi."

[blind_judgment]

"Hello!" Oh, good, he can stop now. At least there's a little shade under these taller trees. "Judging by your face, I suppose asking 'any luck' would be pointless."

[illgotten]

"Rather." He comes over and slumps against a nearby tree, pushing a hand through his hair.

[blind_judgment]

Niko watches him with a ruefully sympathetic expression. "Everyone is searching, I suppose?"

[illgotten]

"I don't know about everyone. I am. I assume Lynet is."

[blind_judgment]

He nods, then begins anew, his voice carefully casual. "I was thinking, you know, that - that you could use a...rest."

[illgotten]

Mordred raises a half-hearted eyebrow. "I was heading home. I don't think I'm going to get a lot farther today."

[blind_judgment]

"No, I meant a rest from this. A holiday, I guess." He pauses, then carries on. "Marianstat in the summer is - well, it's about as hot as this place, actually, but it's a different kind of heat, anyway, and there's the summer festivals and the theater and - well, it's...it's nice," he concludes awkwardly.

[illgotten]

Mordred looks at him directly then, with a curious expression -- partly surprised, partly doubtful, partly something else. "Are you nuts?" he says mildly.

[blind_judgment]

"No," with a touch of exasperation. "I'm not. Look, there's a way through to Westmark - to Marianstat, the capital, specifically - and I was trying, at least, to ask if you'd like to visit. With me."

[illgotten]

He reaches out to lay a hand on Justitia's arm, and doesn't say anything for a minute.

[blind_judgment]

"I know this mayn't be the best time," he rushes on, "but maybe it is the best time. To go somewhere where the weight of the world isn't all in your shoulders."

[illgotten]

Mordred makes a wry face, but he doesn't precisely demur. After a moment he says, "You think you can get back this time?"

[blind_judgment]

"I think so." He hesitates. "I'll admit I'm not entirely sure. But pretty sure," he's quick to add. "Nearly sure."

[illgotten]

"Your confidence overwhelms."

[blind_judgment]

He grimaces slightly. "Better to be honest, right? ...look, I'm almost sure I can get back, I'm very nearly certain, and it wouldn't have to be for very long. Just think about it?"