[He frowns a little. It’s not a wholly unreasonable concern, but why should he have to suffer just because the veil here is paper thin? Why should he care who she lets in?]
What sort of things? Monsters?
[But he can pretend at curiosity.]
And does the mean you’re not willing to try? I can’t stay here.
[Another pause. This would sit unwell with him normally, but if he thinks of it as a transactional exchange of favors, then maybe it’s not so bitter a pill to swallow.]
And how long will the entire process take, exactly?
I'll say this; in all my years of spellcraft, I haven't intentionally punctured a hole.
But I'm not going to be doing a messy job.
[ There are protection spells to be applied in strategic areas, containment measures, avoiding the espers, and of course, planning to seal things up again... Gonna be a fun summer vacation.
Rome wasn't built in a day and thus opening up a seam to create a path to an alternate world won't either.]
I also want a promise that you will not be harming anyone else in this world with your powers unless you need to protect yourself. I already promised you that I wouldn't hand you over to anyone else. I'll find that difficult to keep if you're the type of esper that wants to slap others around with telekinesis and the like.
[So, two items of prerequisite, then: that he help her with his abilities when the time comes, and that he harms no one else in this world unless in self-defense.
Again, reasonable. But again, Henry so hates being told what to do. Yet he is cool-headed enough (now, at least) to know that there's little choice in the matter, and that this route--with a strange witch aiding in his desire to return to Hawkins--might actually be favorable for him, in the end.
So, he tilts his head ever so slightly, and smiles again.]
I don't think any of that is unreasonable. But before I accept, do we know what sort of monsters we're talking about? My abilities will be helpful, you're sure?
The possibilities of what we'll have to deal with are variable. That's the most risky part about this process since there are many unknown terrors in that wider expanse of other worlds.
[It's never going to be the same creatures; perhaps they'll seem familiar if based on human record but Amelia has seen a lot and a lot of them make up their own shapes.
She shrugs at his latter question.]
I do find that basic telekinesis is effective again most things with a spinal cord. And depending on the rest of your skill set you might be more well equipped than you think.
[I do find that basic telekinesis is effective again most things with a spinal cord. That makes him huff out a laugh. True, of course, and he’s certainly proven it before; but to hear it so clinically from her surprises him.]
Breaking a few bones is easy enough. If more’s needed, we’ll tackle it as it comes.
[Amelia gives Henry a firm handshake and sets her hand down. At his question, she pauses. She's already made it clear that he is not to harm anyone and for now, the disabling rune remains active. It will begin to fade over time (and she won't mention that).]
Do you want to explore the town by yourself?
[She sounds curious if only because of her experience, espers aren't huge fans of crowds. Not all of them of course, most were perfectly able at blending in with society at large, but those with potent abilities were sensitive.]
I had meant the restrictions in your home, but… yes. Eventually, I think.
[He wants to see what humanity has made for itself in the decades after his own time — he’s sure nothing will really surprise him, in regards to how some things never change. Look at her, after all, having to create a double to make it to her 9 to 5 on time. And she’s not even really human.]
Is that a problem? I don’t even have my powers, and I’m pretty harmless without them. If I’m going to be stuck in this world for a time, should I grow a little familiar with it?
... I suppose this conversation has been productive enough.
[And by that, she means he's proven that he can behave for his own benefit.
Amelia snaps her fingers and the green glow of runes shimmers for a few seconds before dissipating. The walls are down and the tension in the air has loosened significantly. The wind chimes that were placed outside fly over Henry's head and through the open door to return to the ceiling.]
[Yes. He can behave — and yes, mostly for his own benefit, no one else’s. It just happens that this works in her favor, being non-violent as much as he can manage it for the time being.
And like that, with a snap of her fingers, the green magic shimmers and disperses. There’s a sense of his cage now expanding from a house to… the rest of the town. (Because that’s all this place really is; one more prison, just lovelier than the rest.)
The windchimes, as always, catch his attention as they fly by.]
At least for as long as I’m here, yes. But before I go gallivanting out into town one day, tell me: Is your magic kept secret?
[She has a car Henry!! And magic!! We can go places!!
Amelia nods curtly in response to his question.]
Magic, espers, and any other supernatural phenomena are kept under a lid. Yesterday, the espers worked over time to fix the memories of my students and any other witnesses who saw our disagreement.
[that wasn't a disagreement but who cares, amelia says it is]
It's both necessary and convenient. I am not and wouldn't be the best at operating under strict rules.
[Which is pretty funny since she looks the part and sounds as if she is a rule follower. She's also a high school teacher which has connotations in adherence to structure, but they've established near the beginning she kind of just. Does things.]
[Being anywhere he hasn't chosen to be equates as a prison to Henry, Amelia. Though this is a particularly generous one, with far more freedoms than he's ever been graced with before, it is still not where he wants to be. It isn't his world, his reality. It isn't Hawkins, where he must change things, make life and nature palatable again.
His lips quirk. "Disagreement" is an interesting word for it.]
You look like someone who'd follow rules. That's a surprise to me. But I guess that means I won't be mentioning your neat little tricks to the general public when I go wandering around. Or my own abilities, for that matter.
[In the end, it's not much different from his world. Utterly oblivious to another reality existing "upside down" from theirs; unknowing of the psychics being cultivated by the government as a whole.]
[She picks up her glass of tea from the grass and chugs the rest down.]
The fact that I've been single and unmarried is just a given nowadays. Which, by the way, is a lesser stigma in these times, but that depends on where you're living. I've been accused by a shrill mother that I'm corrupting the youth by flaunting my single and sinful life but that was more of her lashing out about the reading material for my classes.
[Otherwise? Amelia Steinbeck has somehow managed to become a fixture of Blackgale and most of the residents who've known her since she was a high school student have come to the conclusion that she was all right. In a way, the town wouldn't feel the same without her mysterious presence.]
I've been living here for the past decade so I have acquaintances. They may not know I'm a witch but they also don't bat an eye at my activities.
[He still looks skeptical. He can't imagine people won't wonder, won't be curious, no matter how much she's established herself in this town. If nothing else, those curiosities will be somehow directed to him, which means unwanted attention and dealing with... people subtly trying to pry for answers.
Ugh.
His smile becomes a little more strained. He won't argue the point, because he does need a place to stay, and remaining at her house is the easiest way to continue their little collaboration, but-]
Then I'm still going to need a story that isn't just a "friend from out of town".
[His brain starts churning out a story, hold for a moment.]
[She's trying not to look amused but she is curious about what he'll come up with.]
As long as both of us won't trip over details then that's a good idea. At the very least, no one is going to remember you as the man who nearly broke my bones.
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sunfloras2023-04-20 07:42 pm
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[She ponders and the continues.]
Unlike your entrance which was unintentional, there are always other things trying to get in. That is the risk that I am talking about here.
[So if she helps him something just as bad or possibly worse will jump at the opportunity to claim this realm.]
You could say the reason why magic and witches exist in the first place is to fend them off.
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What sort of things? Monsters?
[But he can pretend at curiosity.]
And does the mean you’re not willing to try? I can’t stay here.
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Do you want your powers back?
[Amelia's always about that high risk, high reward.]
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Of course I do.
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[She crosses her arms.]
You'll have to clear a path after all and if I'm doing this for you, it's the least you can do.
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And how long will the entire process take, exactly?
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But I'm not going to be doing a messy job.
[ There are protection spells to be applied in strategic areas, containment measures, avoiding the espers, and of course, planning to seal things up again... Gonna be a fun summer vacation.
Rome wasn't built in a day and thus opening up a seam to create a path to an alternate world won't either.]
I also want a promise that you will not be harming anyone else in this world with your powers unless you need to protect yourself. I already promised you that I wouldn't hand you over to anyone else. I'll find that difficult to keep if you're the type of esper that wants to slap others around with telekinesis and the like.
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Again, reasonable. But again, Henry so hates being told what to do. Yet he is cool-headed enough (now, at least) to know that there's little choice in the matter, and that this route--with a strange witch aiding in his desire to return to Hawkins--might actually be favorable for him, in the end.
So, he tilts his head ever so slightly, and smiles again.]
I don't think any of that is unreasonable. But before I accept, do we know what sort of monsters we're talking about? My abilities will be helpful, you're sure?
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[It's never going to be the same creatures; perhaps they'll seem familiar if based on human record but Amelia has seen a lot and a lot of them make up their own shapes.
She shrugs at his latter question.]
I do find that basic telekinesis is effective again most things with a spinal cord. And depending on the rest of your skill set you might be more well equipped than you think.
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Breaking a few bones is easy enough. If more’s needed, we’ll tackle it as it comes.
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Then we are in agreement?
[This may be one of the stranger arrangements she had made. But if it pacifies this dangerous man, the days ahead may be a little more smooth.]
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[It’ll have to do.]
That means you have a new roommate, I assume.
[Unless she’s gonna fling him elsewhere-]
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[Amelia steps closer to Henry and holds out her hand.]
I agree to find a way back to your dimension and will allow you to stay with me. I will not hand you over to the espers.
[It goes unsaid that if he's out of line, she will deal with him immediately. She waits for him to shake back.]
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Then deal. Though… this does mean I now have the freedom to move about as I like?
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Do you want to explore the town by yourself?
[She sounds curious if only because of her experience, espers aren't huge fans of crowds. Not all of them of course, most were perfectly able at blending in with society at large, but those with potent abilities were sensitive.]
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[He wants to see what humanity has made for itself in the decades after his own time — he’s sure nothing will really surprise him, in regards to how some things never change. Look at her, after all, having to create a double to make it to her 9 to 5 on time. And she’s not even really human.]
Is that a problem? I don’t even have my powers, and I’m pretty harmless without them. If I’m going to be stuck in this world for a time, should I grow a little familiar with it?
[Yeah, he doesn’t know the rune will fade.]
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[And by that, she means he's proven that he can behave for his own benefit.
Amelia snaps her fingers and the green glow of runes shimmers for a few seconds before dissipating. The walls are down and the tension in the air has loosened significantly. The wind chimes that were placed outside fly over Henry's head and through the open door to return to the ceiling.]
You've got a lot to catch up with Mr. Creel.
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And like that, with a snap of her fingers, the green magic shimmers and disperses. There’s a sense of his cage now expanding from a house to… the rest of the town. (Because that’s all this place really is; one more prison, just lovelier than the rest.)
The windchimes, as always, catch his attention as they fly by.]
At least for as long as I’m here, yes. But before I go gallivanting out into town one day, tell me: Is your magic kept secret?
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Amelia nods curtly in response to his question.]
Magic, espers, and any other supernatural phenomena are kept under a lid. Yesterday, the espers worked over time to fix the memories of my students and any other witnesses who saw our disagreement.
[that wasn't a disagreement but who cares, amelia says it is]
It's both necessary and convenient. I am not and wouldn't be the best at operating under strict rules.
[Which is pretty funny since she looks the part and sounds as if she is a rule follower. She's also a high school teacher which has connotations in adherence to structure, but they've established near the beginning she kind of just. Does things.]
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His lips quirk. "Disagreement" is an interesting word for it.]
You look like someone who'd follow rules. That's a surprise to me. But I guess that means I won't be mentioning your neat little tricks to the general public when I go wandering around. Or my own abilities, for that matter.
[In the end, it's not much different from his world. Utterly oblivious to another reality existing "upside down" from theirs; unknowing of the psychics being cultivated by the government as a whole.]
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[She knows he won't, but just to be clear bucko.]
And if anyone asks, you're just a friend from out of town. This wouldn't be the first time I've housed a stranger.
[
why does it keep happening]no subject
A friend from out of town. Staying with an unmarried woman for an indefinite amount of time.
[Ma'am, he partly grew up in the 50s. Of course he's going to think-]
People are going to talk.
[IF SHE'S FINE WITH THAT, WHATEVER?? HE GUESSES.
stop picking up strays, amelia]no subject
[She picks up her glass of tea from the grass and chugs the rest down.]
The fact that I've been single and unmarried is just a given nowadays. Which, by the way, is a lesser stigma in these times, but that depends on where you're living. I've been accused by a shrill mother that I'm corrupting the youth by flaunting my single and sinful life but that was more of her lashing out about the reading material for my classes.
[Otherwise? Amelia Steinbeck has somehow managed to become a fixture of Blackgale and most of the residents who've known her since she was a high school student have come to the conclusion that she was all right. In a way, the town wouldn't feel the same without her mysterious presence.]
I've been living here for the past decade so I have acquaintances. They may not know I'm a witch but they also don't bat an eye at my activities.
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Ugh.
His smile becomes a little more strained. He won't argue the point, because he does need a place to stay, and remaining at her house is the easiest way to continue their little collaboration, but-]
Then I'm still going to need a story that isn't just a "friend from out of town".
[His brain starts churning out a story, hold for a moment.]
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[She's trying not to look amused but she is curious about what he'll come up with.]
As long as both of us won't trip over details then that's a good idea. At the very least, no one is going to remember you as the man who nearly broke my bones.
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