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Hey, he'd warned her! Answers were rarely exactly what were hoped for. Just imagine poor gabe and his goat feet. Regardless, the answer was there amidst it all. "Even I have trouble understanding what all I see... hence my preference to stay amidst your world, rather than drifting in this uncontrollable tide." With that, he rose, swaying his tail. "The question was a weighty one at best. We are all... irrevocably bound together in our fates. I imagine that is part of what you've seen. Via is... useful to trace for anyone, regardless of motivation. If you can keep up with him, that is..." He settled back into the pillows, rumbling. "If you need to return to actual sleep, I will have Via escort you back. If your entire night is spent here, you will awaken tired."

Philomela seemed lost with her thoughts as he moved, and then she seemed upset. "Lord Hermes didn't take anything from my Lord did he? Nor did anybody else..." She'd move back over to the pillows and she'd kneel in front of Ash, "Do you wish me to go?" She'd rather stay here with him, than to be returned to the terrible dream she'd been having, but she wouldn't tell him that. "I'll go if you'd like me to." She didn't want to overstay her welcome.

"That would be unfair to infer... we all know Via harassed Lord Sun at one point or another, and took things; at one point, he took something but he swears he knows not what he supposedly stole recently. So if you ask if he took whatever he's been accused of lately, I think not. Especially if your answer failed to show you any item. ...I do not wish you to leave, but neither do I wish you to be exhausted in the morning. Via can take you to a nice, quiet dream in which your mind can rest. You will find me in the morning."

Philomela shook her head, "No...there was no...item. Not...something that belonged to him anyway." She seemed withdrawn and sad, whatever she'd seen was weighing heavily on her mind. Ash urges her to go again, and she'd bow her head, "As you wish Lord. I will see you in the morning."

If she had to return to a dream, at least it wasn't going to be the one that she left. She'd stand then, and hopefully she'd be able to find Luci easily enough so that he could lead her back to her own dream land.

"Via--"

Hai, hai. My earholes were burning.

"You're spending too much time in the far east."

Oh, but it so chaffes Suzy-And-Oh. The other obscured the name intentionally.

"Viaaa..." It came with scolding to a nonfigure.

Via sighed, and all at once a colorful array like the one Philomela had first experienced wrapped her, as if the many colors of the room came to claim her for themselves. Still, the idea of a crane head peeked around. I need something from within your own mind, your own memories, to place you in a proper resting place. Think of something and I will find it for you--a place you remember. Perhaps where you met Namine, or... some other day in your life you are fond of. Also, you wished to speak to me. Once you envision our new plane, we will speak there.

Go ahead and describe what memory Philomela tapped into; at first her vague memories would come to light, before the feathery wings spread apart. As if they were crystals refracting the world in an odd light, it should all come into better focus, pulled from somewhere deep inside her mind, locked away by time's passing.

The crane of a man folded in its wings and stood an impressive seven feet tall, mostly due to the elongated neck and cobra's hood; he wasn't near that high when presenting as a man.

Philomela was confused by their banter and she didn't comment on it. In fact she was mostly silent until Luci spoke to her. "Alright." She'd close her eyes, though that probably wasn't necessary.

The place they end up is a bit of secluded beach, probably somewhere back in Greece. She did say she grew up near the coast, so they were probably near her childhood home. It was daytime in her dream, but there didn't seem to be anybody else around but the two of them.

Once they were in the dream fully, she'd finally open her eyes and she'd look up at him, "You're um...you got bigger..." She'd rub her sweaty palms across the front of her clothing, before looking back at the ground. "I don't know where to start..." She still seemed quieter than usually, less spirited.

"I suppose an apology is probably a good a start as any." She'd bow, "I am sorry for falsely accusing you of thievery Lord Hermes." She'd pause, "Anything I have to say to explain my actions would only be an excuse. Please accept my apology." She'd stop there for a moment, so she's not blathering on about everything all at once.

"Well, for whatever odd reason you still revere me--if reluctantly, so it's easy for you to perceive me as tall in your mindscape."

The apology left the bird tilting its head. It listened to her in full and then some, pausing before speaking. "...It's not often I get the opportunity to take an apology like that." Like... really. "I accept!" The bird fluffed up proudly, head raised like it was calling a mate--though it's wing-arm saluted. He then leaned down, befeathered hand near encircling his head as he half-whispered, "Besides, I can't really blame you." He nodded assertively. "Anything else? I still haven't gotten you a quill yet. Ah... wait, duh." He sounded annoyed with himself. One hand plucked a feather from the opposite all, and passed it to her.

Right. Because that was going to help her when she woke up.

Actually, it would. She'd find the straw grasped in sleep was in fact a matching quill, with some odd indigo pigment in a helmet shaped serving glass, even if made of more typical stone. At that point, conscious memory might somewhat fade. He abruptly cut out their engagement, sliding from her dreamscape and letting her mind retire to itself.

Philomela looked a little relieved when he so readily accepted her apology. "Thank you Lord Hermes." There was more, "Ah...yes." She still wasn't looking at him, and she wrung her hands, trying to think of where to start or what to say. "I thought that maybe...someone else had taken something from my Lord, and was trying to blame you, but I know that isn't the case anymore." She'd wilt then, "I know what I have to do now though."

It's probably about then that he's handing her the quill, and she'll take it, "Thank you." She might have said more, but he was slipping away and she was slipping into a deeper sleep. She'd have to find him when she woke up.

By morning's fall, everything was relatively normal in the world. Via was unsurprisingly absent, and Ash had taken residence in the pub attached to the stables, staring unwaveringly out the window towards the onset of sunrise. He looked every bit the part of a man, with the only hint connecting him and her vision being the unsightly mane of hair.

Philomela would probably wake early, but it would be a little while before Ash saw her emerge from the barn. She was furiously scribbling down things that she could remember from her dream, her time with Ash and what she saw in the water. The writing is probably messy and cramped, but once she's done she'll blow on it to dry, and then she'll roll it up and stick it in her pack. She'll grab that, and she'll pat Namine on the head, before heading out.

It doesn't take her long to find Ash and she'll approach him slowly and bow her head, "Lord." She seems unsure of what to say, "It's nice to see you this morning. Do you know...by chance...where I might find Lord Hermes? He was called away before I could finish speaking with him."

Namine got head pats and she'd baah. She's not staying put though, instead she's trotting out right behind Namine and following her right over to Ash, where she'd rest her head on his leg. She's trying to give him her best sweet and innocent face, in hopes of earning some pettings.

Draeval had been out all night, he'd been wandering and careful enough to avoid too much trouble. That being said when he sauntered into the pub he didn't look his best. He looked like potentially he'd gotten into a fight, his lip was split and his face was a bit swollen but he didn't seem to pay much mind. At least he wasn't broken and bloody, he could handle what he had going on right now.

He had a stack of papyrus under his arm, and if anyone looked there were strange letters and numbers. Even drawings. He had been working on something that he needed to get off his mind in order to get to sleep. Only sleep hadn't come just yet. He noticed Namine's baahing first before he saw Mela and Ash.

"Morning all. I trust you had good dreams, Philomela." There was a lilt and a smile, he was in a fairly good mood.

"I can call him, if you seek him. Then again, so can you." He glanced up, searching her out with his unpatched eye. He didn't seem so disabled as the night before. When the goat drew close, he perked and placed a hand atop her head to rub it, a finger to either side scritching behind her ears.

There was still some limit to his capability. It took either person, the latest of which was Draeval, to draw near for him to take notice. That and his voice aided. "Good morning, Draebal. Philomela. Popul has been working on calculations through the midnight hour."

"No need, Father. I'm willing to speak." A figure emerged from the gap between tables, wrapping in from nothing into a simplistic cloak of weathered leathers shrouding the head. "Draebal, let's walk." The ambiguous figure, barely even noticed by the crowd save for the local drunk who looked absolutely confused, took for the door with a vague gesture to follow. Striking the streets, a single eye focused on him; the other bore some sort of monocle mounted with a strap, though it was an odd one extended with several metallic tiers, looking nearly like a scope. "The woman named Chiara spoke truth, didn't she?" It came with a still detached sense of disbelief.

"...Regardless, I feel I've met what standards are needed to approximately return you home. We worked after the advent you spoke of, I can not guarantee the exact date and time of your departure from your respective... realm. You may either need to relive certain events with neutrality as you originally lived them, or use the powers I have heard that you have to push yourself forward shortly. Are you fine with this sentiment?"

Philomela seemed surprised, "Me?" She furrowed her brow, "I just...had a couple more things to say. I suppose it can wait." She's biting her lip and looking down at her goat when Draeval shows up.

"Good morning Draebal." She paled a bit at mention of dreams, "They were...enlightening." To say the least. She'd turn her attention back to Ash, "I...had a question for you too Lord." Her eyes drift to the goat again and then back up to Ash.

Namine seemed pleased with the pettings, and nuzzled against Ash when her ears were rubbed. She'd bleat quietly in greeting to Ferous, and Philomela would have at least inclined her head to show respect when Ferous appeared.

Gave a respectful nod to Ash, "Morning Ash." Mela got his attention and he smiled, "I'm sure they were. I've heard interesting things about Luci's dream weaving."

Didn't even bat an eye when Fer appeared, but he offered a smile before the man asked for a walk. "Gladly." It had been a while since he'd walked with Fer and it seemed familiar to him as they made their way to through the streets.

He looked at Fer and chuckled softly, "Yes, she did speak the truth." But this Fer and his Fer were a bit different, and he knew more than he really should anyway.

He gave a nod to Fer, "Um, yes I am." He bit his lip, he would be fine with that for sure. He could do whatever was needed and in fact he'd probably utilize the TARDIS for that extraction. Just to be on the safe side.

"Father wanted to wait until morning to ensure you were fine with it; a subconscious mind can dream many things that they might not mean by morning. I found the reservation unnecessary, as your subconscious should follow your heart all the more. Take the rest of the day to observe and indulge as you will here, but I can not guarantee the following of any items you may wish to take with you; by sleep's fall, we will reach you through akasha and transport you home." Ferous remained... typically analytical, saying no more on the front of Chiara. The sentiment only drew an equally thoughtful look to any other expression to be felt from the cloaked figure.

Ash nodded. Repeating his striking gesture with makeshift match that he had enacted a spare few days before, lighting the pipe he put freshly to his lips. Expelling a darn near draconic breath, he stared a sparse moment before speaking through the haze, "Yes, you." She didn't seem to query on that any further, however. So, after a second hit he lowered his vice and stared at her. "Well? Ask."