... 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.
Nearly, is it? At least you can concede that much.
[For what it's worth, that can soothe his pride a little more. It really is something of a miracle that he didn't just immediately choose to break her neck on a whim; but that worked out in the end, didn't it?]
But yes. I'll just spin it as me being... an artist in town. On vacation, but looking for his next bout of inspiration from the locals.
[Villains have hobbies, too. Sometimes those hobbies are under utilized because a man's been trapped in a lab for twenty years, but he still sometimes found the time. Papa, at the very least, did not let his kids wither away from boredom; stimulation of the mind was always important for garnering better results in a testing environment. That was the hope, anyway.]
Well. If there's a local art supply store, then I know where to begin my explorations.
I have some supplies on hand as well. As for money, I'll provide it.
[A teachers' salary is still in that frustrating problem of not being worth what it should be but hey, Amelia's never found money to be a problem due to saving, other investments, and the Witch King providing. He's at least good at that for some reason.]
I'll also provide a map of the area and the names of some locals who are friendly enough. They're good at welcoming people from out of town.
[She'll hit up Adam to help in falsifying some documentation in the meawhile.]
Yes, it'll stay put. It has a way of knowing when I need something in particular so since you are my guest, it'll keep any room you stay in within reach.
But if you do get lost, I'll tug you out. It hasn't happened before.
[After what those damn kids put him through, not to mention his frying-via-heated-sunlight, he still feels a little overwrought, even if his body has healed. Even a lich is not immune to feeling tired.]
Maybe explore the garden in the backyard while you're gone. I'll claim a bedroom for myself when you get back.
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sunfloras2023-04-20 07:42 pm
no subject
[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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
[For what it's worth, that can soothe his pride a little more. It really is something of a miracle that he didn't just immediately choose to break her neck on a whim; but that worked out in the end, didn't it?]
But yes. I'll just spin it as me being... an artist in town. On vacation, but looking for his next bout of inspiration from the locals.
no subject
Well... That's a good way to blend in. The town is known for some beautiful local spots that artists tend to flock to.
You'll need art supplies then.
no subject
Well. If there's a local art supply store, then I know where to begin my explorations.
...I'll need some money, though.
no subject
[A teachers' salary is still in that frustrating problem of not being worth what it should be but hey, Amelia's never found money to be a problem due to saving, other investments, and the Witch King providing. He's at least good at that for some reason.]
I'll also provide a map of the area and the names of some locals who are friendly enough. They're good at welcoming people from out of town.
[She'll hit up Adam to help in falsifying some documentation in the meawhile.]
no subject
[He sounds satisfied with this. It gives him an excuse to poke around the town, just a curious artist looking for a spot to inspire.]
Then it sounds like we’re off to a good start. It’ll give me something to do while we wait to make progress on sending me home.
I’ll pick up a few things tomorrow then.
no subject
For the house, you can explore the rooms in the hallway, bar mine of course.
[She holds up her hand to list off some of the rooms that are most recurring in the ever-shifting hallway.]
There's the spare bedrooms, spare bathrooms, a library, a greenhouse, a bathhouse, oh, and a storage closet.
[well, only a few of those things sound like they fit in her house]
There might be other rooms too but if they disappear it means they're not being used for anything important.
no subject
The room I claim for myself- [Because surely he's not going to be delegated to the couch??] -isn't going to disappear on whim then, right?
[Hopefully an interdimensional guests counts as "important".]
no subject
Yes, it'll stay put. It has a way of knowing when I need something in particular so since you are my guest, it'll keep any room you stay in within reach.
But if you do get lost, I'll tug you out. It hasn't happened before.
[A beat.]
Not yet anyway.
[the most reassuring hostess]
no subject
...If I get lost in one more strange dimension, even if it is just a guest room, Amelia, then I will be very unhappy about that.
no subject
[is she joking she must be but her tone is so dry—]
I'll be leaving for school now. [It would be nice to take the whole day off but she doesn't want to leave everything to her paper doll.]
You can rest some more for now or... Hm. Plenty of free time for you. I'll let you know when I'm getting to work on your case.
no subject
I'll take today to rest.
[After what those damn kids put him through, not to mention his frying-via-heated-sunlight, he still feels a little overwrought, even if his body has healed. Even a lich is not immune to feeling tired.]
Maybe explore the garden in the backyard while you're gone. I'll claim a bedroom for myself when you get back.
[IN CASE HE GETS LOST]