Private Finished [AGoDR]Found You

Garrick wasn’t himself today. He had work that night, and when he arrived back to his apartment he was restless. He hadn’t been doing well in this tournament, and the questions in his head... he had so many. It couldn’t really just be as simple as everyone getting a bunch of powers just to bond with people. Why are they willingly sharing this bond?
All questions Garrick had mulled over. But more than usual when he finished work. He couldn’t sleep, and when the day began, he started a search. Along the way he was joined by his two Regalia. They were a bit alarmed when they found Garrick wasn’t... himself. Eventually, Garrick took to the skies in his owl form. He doesn’t know if his Regalia tried to follow him, but they would’ve given up pretty quick.

Garrick spent hours flying. He searched the people below him in the city, for anyone who looked like they could be involved with this tournament. Specifically the one who seemed to have organised this. Garrick couldn’t recall if he ever received his name, but he knew it from his Regalia. Cornelius. He at least could remember what he looked like.

But not sleeping, remaining in an emotionally detached state, and constantly flying for several hours would eventually have a toll. Garrick finally landed, breathing heavily. He didn’t have his glasses on, so he squinted a little. He had landed outside what looked to be a public building, and frankly he needed a break. Despite being intently focused, he knew when he needed one. So he headed inside, hoping that he could possibly get some coffee. To his pleasant surprise, it was an art gallery. He felt his shoulders relax a bit as he looked around. Well, this was nice, he figured. Yeah, he’ll spend a few minutes here then head out to get some coffee.

@Emy

Garrick wandered for a few minutes, impressed by how crazy some of the exhibits were. He wasn’t the best at art, and he usually liked stuff just simply aesthetically pleasing rather than reading much into it. So some of likely went over his head. He stopped to look at another glass sculpture. It took him a moment to get an image of what he thought it was, but he thought he could see birds.

He idly looked around from where he stood. In an almost comically dramatic turn, he looked to practically right next to himself. He only found himself right next to the very person he had set out today to find. “Cornelius.” He stared at Cornelius, his arms hung limply at his sides. Despite their only brief encounter the first time, Garrick wasn’t smiling warmly this time. His eyes were narrowed slightly as he looked Cornelius up and down.

Garrick squared his shoulders and tried to stand as tall as he could. To be fair that wasn’t very tall and he couldn’t really look intimidating even if he properly tried, but he wasn’t focused on that right now. He just looked at Cornelius. “You’re the one who organised the tournament, right?” He asked quite quickly. He suddenly found himself about to spill all the questions he had. “Why did you organise it? What’s the reason behind it? Why are the Regalia involved willing to do this? Is there anything for them? There has to be a benefit. To them, or to you, as to why they’re doing this. Not every Regalia has been compatible with personalities and not all of them are gonna get along. Just... why?” He ran a hand through his hair as he stared into space. “You’re a Regalia as well, right? Seeing how I’ve heard the other proctors are as well, I’d assume so.” He spoke slowly and cautiously.

Now, Garrick wasn’t a detective but he worked alongside a lot of detectives. It reminded him of fae half-truths. What they said wasn’t a lie, but they weren’t telling everything. They were true to their own nature, while also being clever to move around it. As Garrick looked at Cornelius, he knew that Cornelius was clever as well. He couldn’t be certain to how much, but it was there.

He crossed his arms, the fingers on his right hand tapped against his arm as he looked at Cornelius. “That’s an awful lot of effort just because you felt like it.” He didn't even attempt to hide the suspicion in his voice. Later, Garrick would most certainly feel awful about this. He always felt bad about the focused questions and comments he made, after the fact.

But now was for a question Garrick never really pondered before. But felt the exact same drive to get an answer for. “...since you’re a Regalia, doesn’t that mean you can be pacted with?” He looked Cornelius in the eyes as he asked this question. There was still caution in his voice as he spoke, but the look in his eyes had curiosity.

Garrick observed Cornelius while he spoke, contemplating his next words. Garrick hadn’t specifically asked if Cornelius was pacted, but Cornelius answered what would’ve been Garrick’s next question anyway. He considered the two questions in his head, debating whether he should ask them. Finally his arms dropped to his sides. “So... Regalia want to be pacted with, bonded with?” He placed his right hand on his hip. “Do you want to be pacted?” It was a genuine question, really. But it’d be hard to notice the invitation it seemed to have.