[The implications of what he tells her strikes her in an odd way. Uncomfortably, even. Amelia has a tendency to strike blindly when dealing with new people, never mind people who nearly killed her.
Little by little, now that her own temper has cooled down over the night she can regard this lost man among her flowers with some more careful consideration.]
... I grew them all. The flowers.
[Her eyes glance over at the gate and fences covered with pink roses.]
It took a while. Years ago, this was all overgrown with weeds because I didn't bother to think about making something better.
[She pauses. This feels awkward. She's always been awkward and it doesn't help she's in a ludicrous situation with the man she has trapped.]
[It is awkward, because while Henry is not in a rageful mood like yesterday, he is still not very keen on doling out compliments. Not with any sincerity. Still, as he stands, straightening the wrinkles out of his shirt with smoothing hands, he supposes not much of it needs to be sincere.
It's been a while since he's had to play the nice, polite orderly. The man with the kind smile and helpful demeanor. But he finds, as he falls back into the role, it still slides on with the ease of a second skin.
And so, for the first time, he smiles at her. It's dim, but there.]
Years. I've been trapped for a long time. Fresh air, sunlight, and a well-manicured garden aren't usual sights for me anymore.
[The contrast of his demeanor compared to yesterday is striking. It doesn't show on her face but it nearly throws her for a loop.
Still. Caution is the name of the game.
The witch gives a quiet nod of thanks at his compliment and then gestures back to the house.]
Would you like to have some coffee? We can drink it out here if you'd like.
[During her trial as a student teacher, something her master teacher said to Amelia stuck with her at the beginning before she even began taking on the daunting task of handling high schoolers.
"Instead of asking, 'What's wrong with you?' ask this."
"What happened to you?"
She wonders if they'll be able to breach that soon.]
[Caution for them both, in their own way. Henry can play it safe for now. His hands are figuratively tied (at least not literally any longer!) until his abilities are no longer disabled by her magic.
He follows her gaze back towards the house.]
I'd like something cold if you can manage it.
[But he doesn't mind having a drink out here, a preamble to a longer conversation they're sure to have. It's... strange to sit outside, but not unwanted.]
[The witch makes her way back inside. The blinds for the kitchen window are opened and she can be seen moving about taking out cups and making the drinks.
One of the nice things about Amelia's place is that the house is rather isolated though it doesn't take long to go down the road and into the more populated neighborhood. But the sounds of cars and parents ushering children into buses so that they can get to school are very faint. It was easy to enjoy the mild air and sunlight that flows through the trees that surround the property. And of course, the flowers sleepily open their petals as more light moves their way making for a serene environment.
The door opens and it's Emil who's bringing out two chairs and setting them up near the flowers. The crack in his face is still prominent. When he sees Henry, the golem just... Lights up and gives a friendly wave. No malice in this creature at least. Emil goes back inside, passing by Amelia who has two glasses of iced black tea.
She sits down in a chair and motions to Henry to do the same while holding out his glass.]
Here. This should be cold enough. And hopefully not overstimulating.
[In a distant away, it reminds him of his old home. Spacious grounds with neighbors existing far enough in the distance to where it hardly matters that they're there at all. He can hear the sounds of cars whispering down the road on their rubber tires. Children and their parents, presumably, being escorted to school buses with brakes that squeak when they come to a halt.
It's... nostalgic, in a way that makes his stomach twist. In bitterness, not fondness. His own experiences with school had never been great.
The door opens, interrupting his observations, and Emil comes out to give him a wave. Henry just... looks at him, placid and without the irritation from yesterday. But he doesn't match his friendly smile. Then Amelia comes out, with two glasses of tea, and he moves closer to take a seat and the glass.]
[The coolness, while not unpleasant, is already strange under now-human fingertips. The glass has already begun to codensate, lending a slickness to the surface that he considers, briefly, before taking his own sip.
His sense of taste might not be what it had once been, being on hiatus for practically seven years, but that makes the taste envelop him all the more prominently. He makes a surprised face, despite himself, setting the tea down.]
Talking about it is the only way we're going to make progress on the matter, I think.
[What was the alternative? They stare at each other day by day and hope that she suddenly feels gracious enough to free him, or that the universe wheels him back home without warning?]
[His lips twitch, the kind of expression that implies a man is trying to hold back a scoff of a laugh.]
I'm from Indiana. A small town called Hawkins.
[Which is not untrue, per se. That is where he resided for too, too long before he was cast out into an alternate dimension. And it is so hard to think of Indiana as the state he was "from"; that implies a sense of home, which he has not felt...
[Amelia lets out what sounds like a "Hoo boy." Because time is a wibbly wobbly bastard especially when it crosses over with different worlds. It's like having two charts that look the same but it gets confusing when you peer through the magnifying glass.
But she won't worry much about alignment. That's not important.]
Okay. That's a start. For your reference, we're in Blackgale California and it's the 2010s. A bit of a jump there.
[Somehow, despite everything, this still surprises him. That's several decades beyond his own time, even if hints of it were sprinkled all around him -- from the decor within Amelia's home, to the models of cars that sometimes roamed past the house.]
More than a "bit". But ultimately, I shouldn't be surprised. If I was wrenched away from space, then why not time, too?
[Time marches on, dragging them all along to its terrible, unending tempo. Seems like he's skipped a few thousand beats on his way here, however that happened.]
Dr. Brenner didn't have a term for us like that. "Psychic" or "esper". But I suppose "psychic" or "psionic" is just as accurate as anything.
[Something dry in his tone. Something sharp in his eyes, but he continues pleasantly enough.]
Very uncommon. There were only a handful of us at most.
[The witch hums over the rim of her glass as she considers his answer. The name of "Dr. Brenner" brings up something in Henry's eyes, something she doesn't have skill in interpreting but based on her own experiences and the context with espers...
They networked for a reason. To protect themselves and each other. And to an extent, they protected themselves against the less scrupulous witches.
She makes a note to herself to circle back to Dr. Brenner.]
Well, we're flush with psychics here as I mentioned last night. There are probably some differences between you and them but I think it was a good idea not to hand you over to their governing bodies. Operating in secrecy is high on the list of their priorities.
That said... I'm going to take a stab in the dark and assume that having uncommon abilities with very few others that shared the same traits did not grant you ideal circumstances.
I don't want to be handed over to any "governing bodies" if I can help it.
[Again, his experience with that is Not Great. Snatched up by the US Government at such a young age, he certainly does not think very highly of any authoritative beauracracy.]
You must have some influence to have kept me away from them, though. Or am I assuming incorrectly?
[She had said she was powerful, after all. He wonders if that means "influential" instead. And he'll answer her implied question in a bit, he wants to hear her answer first.]
[The promise is direct and to the point. She means it.
Henry's question makes her pause and her expression seems to twist comically as she tries to see how to spin her answer.]
It's a mixed bag.
[girl what do you even mean... ]
I'm a well-known witch. That doesn't make me liked mind you. [Okay, that's rather vague so she tries to further explain.]
Look, it's more complex than we can fit into one conversation but the short of it is, yes, I'm influential to an extent but it's also just more convenient not to fight me once I've made up my mind.
[A well-known witch with a story. Oh, if he had his powers, he would try to skim the surface of her mind right now just to pick up a few pieces of that untold tale. But once again, he can't. And so he will just have to rely on words, instead, maybe to unfurl them from her sooner rather than later.
For now, it seems like she wants to flit right over it. So he'll just have to accept that she's influential to some degree; both a blessing for him, and a curse. It means he won't be swept up by the local "esper" authorities, but he'll probably be watched like a hawk beneath her own scrutiny.]
So you're bone-headed.
[Stubborn. He says it like it's a joke, but. With Henry there's a little bit of meanness to his personality that one can take as sincere.
But anyway-]
But good to know. To answer your question, yes. Extraordinary abilities spark the interest of those who want to use them, to control them. That includes the US government.
[Now that was just rude! She does open her mouth when he calls her bone-headed and stops to think about it. Shrugs.]
I've been called worse.
[And yeah, based on his answer, that universe does not sound powers-friendly. Amelia idly thinks that if the government tried to do anything to her... Well, bad times all around.]
That explains a lot. [Not that anyone would want to be imprisoned but his case filled in some blanks.]
And now this one has been bothering me the most.
Are you human or not? Or are you just human-shaped?
Oh, no. Don't misunderstand. [She holds up her hand and waves it dismissively.]
I was just confused when I thought about it. I don't think it would really change the circumstances that much.
[Why? Because she's confident (aka boneheaded) about being able to just push ahead no matter what Henry Creel reveals himself as? Maybe.]
And again, contexts. That would be nice to have to fully understand where you're coming from but I'm trying to approach this with a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
[Boneheaded might be right. Sheโs keeping captive an eldritch tentacle monster who has control over a hivemind of an entire dimension of similar monsters; not to mention a very powerful psychic with a penchant for murder to boot.
Yet in that same vein, sheโs also debilitated him to the point where he can do nothing, and without access to said monsters, he has no choice but to wait this all out โ to suffer through this sort of conversation. Boneheaded-confidence may be well-founded, either way.
He clearly pauses, trying to judge how to answer.]
Before I arrived here, I was in a dimension thatโฆ changed me. Into something other than human. Something similar to the biology of the creatures that live there.
[She tilts her head and gives a slow deliberate nod at him, the sunlight illuminating strands of her red hair as she does so.]
Hm. That sort of place, is it...?
[Give her some credit, it doesn't take long for it to dawn on her that this is headed in a dubious direction.]
And now you're in your human body again. For what it's worth it doesn't seem you've entirely reverted. You suffered severe wounds that disappeared within a few hours so unless you had a healing factor before thatโ
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sunfloras2023-04-20 07:42 pm
no subject
[The implications of what he tells her strikes her in an odd way. Uncomfortably, even. Amelia has a tendency to strike blindly when dealing with new people, never mind people who nearly killed her.
Little by little, now that her own temper has cooled down over the night she can regard this lost man among her flowers with some more careful consideration.]
... I grew them all. The flowers.
[Her eyes glance over at the gate and fences covered with pink roses.]
It took a while. Years ago, this was all overgrown with weeds because I didn't bother to think about making something better.
[She pauses. This feels awkward. She's always been awkward and it doesn't help she's in a ludicrous situation with the man she has trapped.]
I'm glad you like them.
[yeah that works]
no subject
It's been a while since he's had to play the nice, polite orderly. The man with the kind smile and helpful demeanor. But he finds, as he falls back into the role, it still slides on with the ease of a second skin.
And so, for the first time, he smiles at her. It's dim, but there.]
Years. I've been trapped for a long time. Fresh air, sunlight, and a well-manicured garden aren't usual sights for me anymore.
But it looks nice. You did well.
no subject
Still. Caution is the name of the game.
The witch gives a quiet nod of thanks at his compliment and then gestures back to the house.]
Would you like to have some coffee? We can drink it out here if you'd like.
[During her trial as a student teacher, something her master teacher said to Amelia stuck with her at the beginning before she even began taking on the daunting task of handling high schoolers.
"Instead of asking, 'What's wrong with you?' ask this."
"What happened to you?"
She wonders if they'll be able to breach that soon.]
no subject
He follows her gaze back towards the house.]
I'd like something cold if you can manage it.
[But he doesn't mind having a drink out here, a preamble to a longer conversation they're sure to have. It's... strange to sit outside, but not unwanted.]
no subject
[The witch makes her way back inside. The blinds for the kitchen window are opened and she can be seen moving about taking out cups and making the drinks.
One of the nice things about Amelia's place is that the house is rather isolated though it doesn't take long to go down the road and into the more populated neighborhood. But the sounds of cars and parents ushering children into buses so that they can get to school are very faint. It was easy to enjoy the mild air and sunlight that flows through the trees that surround the property. And of course, the flowers sleepily open their petals as more light moves their way making for a serene environment.
The door opens and it's Emil who's bringing out two chairs and setting them up near the flowers. The crack in his face is still prominent. When he sees Henry, the golem just... Lights up and gives a friendly wave. No malice in this creature at least. Emil goes back inside, passing by Amelia who has two glasses of iced black tea.
She sits down in a chair and motions to Henry to do the same while holding out his glass.]
Here. This should be cold enough. And hopefully not overstimulating.
no subject
It's... nostalgic, in a way that makes his stomach twist. In bitterness, not fondness. His own experiences with school had never been great.
The door opens, interrupting his observations, and Emil comes out to give him a wave. Henry just... looks at him, placid and without the irritation from yesterday. But he doesn't match his friendly smile. Then Amelia comes out, with two glasses of tea, and he moves closer to take a seat and the glass.]
Overstimulating? I've had iced tea before.
[a LONG WHILE ago]
no subject
[Amelia takes a sip of her tea and then lets the glass sit on her lap.]
Though depending on how this goes, we'll be exchanging more than a few. If you're willing that is.
no subject
His sense of taste might not be what it had once been, being on hiatus for practically seven years, but that makes the taste envelop him all the more prominently. He makes a surprised face, despite himself, setting the tea down.]
Talking about it is the only way we're going to make progress on the matter, I think.
[What was the alternative? They stare at each other day by day and hope that she suddenly feels gracious enough to free him, or that the universe wheels him back home without warning?]
I'm sure you have plenty of questions. Ask them.
no subject
[Something innocuous then. Perhaps not relevant, but it's like dipping your small toe in the water.]
What state are you from? That is if your reality has its own version of the United States. And perhaps give the year.
no subject
I'm from Indiana. A small town called Hawkins.
[Which is not untrue, per se. That is where he resided for too, too long before he was cast out into an alternate dimension. And it is so hard to think of Indiana as the state he was "from"; that implies a sense of home, which he has not felt...
Ever.]
As for the year, it should be 1986 there.
no subject
But she won't worry much about alignment. That's not important.]
Okay. That's a start. For your reference, we're in Blackgale California and it's the 2010s. A bit of a jump there.
no subject
[Somehow, despite everything, this still surprises him. That's several decades beyond his own time, even if hints of it were sprinkled all around him -- from the decor within Amelia's home, to the models of cars that sometimes roamed past the house.]
More than a "bit". But ultimately, I shouldn't be surprised. If I was wrenched away from space, then why not time, too?
no subject
[Time for the next question, something she finds more pertinent.]
You are some kind of esper yes? Or in other words, a psychic. Were people with special abilities common or uncommon?
[She has a feeling she can guess part of the answer but wants to hear it from the man himself.]
no subject
Dr. Brenner didn't have a term for us like that. "Psychic" or "esper". But I suppose "psychic" or "psionic" is just as accurate as anything.
[Something dry in his tone. Something sharp in his eyes, but he continues pleasantly enough.]
Very uncommon. There were only a handful of us at most.
no subject
They networked for a reason. To protect themselves and each other. And to an extent, they protected themselves against the less scrupulous witches.
She makes a note to herself to circle back to Dr. Brenner.]
Well, we're flush with psychics here as I mentioned last night. There are probably some differences between you and them but I think it was a good idea not to hand you over to their governing bodies. Operating in secrecy is high on the list of their priorities.
That said... I'm going to take a stab in the dark and assume that having uncommon abilities with very few others that shared the same traits did not grant you ideal circumstances.
no subject
[Again, his experience with that is Not Great. Snatched up by the US Government at such a young age, he certainly does not think very highly of any authoritative beauracracy.]
You must have some influence to have kept me away from them, though. Or am I assuming incorrectly?
[She had said she was powerful, after all. He wonders if that means "influential" instead. And he'll answer her implied question in a bit, he wants to hear her answer first.]
no subject
[The promise is direct and to the point. She means it.
Henry's question makes her pause and her expression seems to twist comically as she tries to see how to spin her answer.]
It's a mixed bag.
[girl what do you even mean... ]
I'm a well-known witch. That doesn't make me liked mind you. [Okay, that's rather vague so she tries to further explain.]
Look, it's more complex than we can fit into one conversation but the short of it is, yes, I'm influential to an extent but it's also just more convenient not to fight me once I've made up my mind.
[The good ol' "I do what I want permit."]
no subject
For now, it seems like she wants to flit right over it. So he'll just have to accept that she's influential to some degree; both a blessing for him, and a curse. It means he won't be swept up by the local "esper" authorities, but he'll probably be watched like a hawk beneath her own scrutiny.]
So you're bone-headed.
[Stubborn. He says it like it's a joke, but. With Henry there's a little bit of meanness to his personality that one can take as sincere.
But anyway-]
But good to know. To answer your question, yes. Extraordinary abilities spark the interest of those who want to use them, to control them. That includes the US government.
no subject
I've been called worse.
[And yeah, based on his answer, that universe does not sound powers-friendly. Amelia idly thinks that if the government tried to do anything to her... Well, bad times all around.]
That explains a lot. [Not that anyone would want to be imprisoned but his case filled in some blanks.]
And now this one has been bothering me the most.
Are you human or not? Or are you just human-shaped?
no subject
Thatโs a tricky thing to answer, but only because he isnโt sure what her reaction might be, depending on what he says.
So, first:]
โBotheringโ you? So does the answer change my circumstances?
[Which might be telling in itself.]
no subject
I was just confused when I thought about it. I don't think it would really change the circumstances that much.
[Why? Because she's confident (aka boneheaded) about being able to just push ahead no matter what Henry Creel reveals himself as? Maybe.]
And again, contexts. That would be nice to have to fully understand where you're coming from but I'm trying to approach this with a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
no subject
Yet in that same vein, sheโs also debilitated him to the point where he can do nothing, and without access to said monsters, he has no choice but to wait this all out โ to suffer through this sort of conversation. Boneheaded-confidence may be well-founded, either way.
He clearly pauses, trying to judge how to answer.]
Before I arrived here, I was in a dimension thatโฆ changed me. Into something other than human. Something similar to the biology of the creatures that live there.
1/2
Hm. That sort of place, is it...?
[Give her some credit, it doesn't take long for it to dawn on her that this is headed in a dubious direction.]
And now you're in your human body again. For what it's worth it doesn't seem you've entirely reverted. You suffered severe wounds that disappeared within a few hours so unless you had a healing factor before thatโ
no subject
And by the way, I apologize for enhancing the sunlight and nearly roasting you in front of my class.
[AMELIA THAT IS THE LATEST APOLOGY EVER]
1/2
Not much of a welcome to a new world. Donโt do it again.
[maโam!!!]
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