Hali gives Ivy a look.

It's not a judgemental look, it's a curious look.

"If anything, I imagine that whatever happened was in fact the catalyst for you becoming like this, Lucy; I don't suppose any of the people who were there might be willing and able to share, Ivy?"

Yeah, this was a long time coming.

"I - wasn't there," she hedges, "but…"

Deep breath.

"Lucy, I want to fetch Thierry. He was there. But - I know that it might be stressful. For both of you. So if you'd rather, I can… tell what I know, since he has told me. But… it would be better, if he told it, because there are parts of the story that aren't mine to tell, and I'm not going to break his trust if I can help it."

It's Lucy's turn to tense up.

"If you're sure," they finally say. "Um. If it… seems like it might go pear-shaped, can you get his permission to share the parts? Only if they're relevant, I don't really want to pry into his secrets or personal life."

If Hali wasn't using an illusory disguise, it would be very evident from her tail's stress-poofed fur that she's worried about whatever caused that response.

As it is, it's only mostly evident, in the way she tries to untense, in the way she fails, her muscles straining against themselves as she stretches her hands low to her sides, in the way a sharp-eyed viewer might spot a flicker of a knife - in a palm that does not grasp it - for the barest instant, before it vanishes.

"...I'm guessing that if I asked you, Lucy, you wouldn't recognize a Dr. Malliet."

Lucy shakes their head, but they squint, just a little, like they've got a word on the tip of their tongue -

"They wouldn't recognize the name," says Ivy firmly. "I'm - going to get Thierry."

She turns tail and hurries up the stairs.

(Su-Yeong picked up on the tension, if only subconsciously.)

"You okay?"

"Worried.  Too much - plot - for me to be comfortable about being near it, but I can't not, not without betraying the person I want to be.  The one who helps."

"Yeah."

"If it helps," says Lucy, "I think… I know that Ivy's being really weird and cagey right now. I don't know exactly why, but I trust her. She's - never not been on my side. Master Rothart is… well, he can be a huge jerk, and it feels like he's impossible to please. But Ivy gets that. She gets me. She knows that I'm trying my hardest, and she stands up for me. So… you don't have to worry about working against her, I think. If you want to help, she probably does too. If you want to help me, she definitely does too."

"Yeah.  I trust Ivy.  It's everyone else I'm worried about."

This gets a laugh out of Lucy!

"Well, I'll do my best not to muck it up for you. Even if I am a… what'd you call it, demi-husk?"

"I don't know what you are, honestly.  Not a husk, not a magician, but a secret third thing that I want to figure out."

"… I wanna figure it out, too."

They look thoughtfully at one of the peaclocks.

"So, Su-Yeong… what have you been doing, the last few years?"

Su-Yeong laughs.

"Oh, y'know, this and that. We - got by, after you got taken in. It got easier, over time. And then… Tobi had the idea of pretending to be magic. He didn't do much, just got a pet rat. Named him Tater, made a little collar for him. It worked. People were suddenly nicer to him - I mean, it's not like they were horrible before, but there's still a difference. He got a really cushy job, cleaning up at the Vasillia place, and he was able to get me in."

"Vasillia? Like, Philomena Vasillia?"

Ugh.

"Yes."

Lucy cackles.

"You don't like her either, huh? I thought I was the only one!"

It's on this note that Ivy comes down the stairs. Trailing behind her is -

Dr. Malliet, but looking much older than he should. (It's a disguise - under the hood he's the right age.)

Also, he's a husk, and he's much farther along than Su-Yeong was. He's wearing half a dozen sapphires on a necklace, and they're all humming with the magic that pours from him. The peacock part of his soul is stronger than Morgan was. He's in surprisingly good condition, though.

Relatedly, Ivy is radiating even more of his color blue than she was when she left.

"...How in the actual fuck are you doing that?"

Malliet does a double-take at the cussing, then shares a look with Ivy.

"Which part?" asks the cat.

"Not possibly quite literally exploding from thaumaturgical overpressure, and especially keeping the strain off your bird in a way that allows you to pass."

"His bird?"

They always kinda thought the peacock stuff was commemorating a dead kid or something.

Thierry almost laughs, then sits down in an armchair.

"I suppose the jig really is up, then."

(Ivy rolls her eyes fondly.)

"The secret is Ivy, but if you'll allow me, I'd like to address that later. First, I-"

He coughs awkwardly.

"I believe I owe Lucien an explanation, even if it may be obvious to you."

A weary sigh.