But working toward it is the solution. Even if you don't have it immediately. Even if you don't have much. Just because you can't do it all at once and there'll be setbacks and it'll take longer doesn't mean it doesn't count.
Is there--anything I can do to help with it? It might not be much within my field of expertise, but...if there's busywork to be done to speed it along, or something, I could be--
[Another set of eyes, he's about to say, and then...doesn't.]
[Something about Van's reassurance prompts a laugh out of him. It's not much of one, but it is a laugh.]
I know. Just didn't want you thinking we're further along than we were.
[His tone brightens further at the offer.] Please--I don't know it's anyone's field of expertise, though I s'pose as there's spirits involved Kostos will be in his element. As...will Anders, if he's joining us.
[He does not follow with, please come be a buffer for me. But there's a note of trepidation in that name that all the same. He doesn't like not getting along with people and the relative peace feels surreal.]
[Myr, fortunately, does not need to follow explicitly with that. They've had that conversation, or something like it, often enough for it to be understood--even if Van doesn't know half so much about it as he thinks he does.
What he already does know is enough to make him realize that he might be the only one able or willing to mediate between cousin and friend, even if neither of them is aware of the extent of his connection with the other. And this is to say nothing of what he can do for the project itself, though his confidence wavers a little at the description.]
Well, you know I'm not much for spirits themselves, but so long as I don't need to be, I'm there. I'll bring snacks, even, if they've got the actual magic covered between them. Everything's better with moretum.
[The mediation alone would be worth it, should Myr and Anders get crossways with each other again. Somewhere Myr heartily does not want to go--but if Anders restarts that fight, far be it from him not to try and finish it.
...Except it will imperil their research. Damn. Hope Van's in top diplomatic form, then.]
No argument there--and I'd never undersell the importance of snacks in the research process. [Can't pull all-nighters without good snacks.]
Besides, I expect there'll be a lot of reading and you know that's always faster with more people.
no subject
Is there--anything I can do to help with it? It might not be much within my field of expertise, but...if there's busywork to be done to speed it along, or something, I could be--
[Another set of eyes, he's about to say, and then...doesn't.]
no subject
I know. Just didn't want you thinking we're further along than we were.
[His tone brightens further at the offer.] Please--I don't know it's anyone's field of expertise, though I s'pose as there's spirits involved Kostos will be in his element. As...will Anders, if he's joining us.
[He does not follow with, please come be a buffer for me. But there's a note of trepidation in that name that all the same. He doesn't like not getting along with people and the relative peace feels surreal.]
no subject
What he already does know is enough to make him realize that he might be the only one able or willing to mediate between cousin and friend, even if neither of them is aware of the extent of his connection with the other. And this is to say nothing of what he can do for the project itself, though his confidence wavers a little at the description.]
Well, you know I'm not much for spirits themselves, but so long as I don't need to be, I'm there. I'll bring snacks, even, if they've got the actual magic covered between them. Everything's better with moretum.
no subject
...Except it will imperil their research. Damn. Hope Van's in top diplomatic form, then.]
No argument there--and I'd never undersell the importance of snacks in the research process. [Can't pull all-nighters without good snacks.]
Besides, I expect there'll be a lot of reading and you know that's always faster with more people.