[And for a moment she stops resisting. The redheaded women takes a deep breath. Closes her eyes blocking out the noise of the ocean, the whimpers and screams of the teens behind her, the salt smell, and the sunlight beating down on their heads. Her shoulders relax, her arms slack and pliant.
The pressure is enormous. She feels the imminent pain down to the marrow of her bones and it feels like the sensation of death.
Ah. It's been a long while.
She's a small shuddering child, suspended in the air, at the mercy of some creature that reaches for her with greedy limbs while her teacher stands below smiling blithely and giving her a wave. It's a cruel and dismissive gesture that only tells her one thing.
Figure it out yourself or die.
When Amelia opens her eyes she stares right back into the raw anger of this man's blue eyes. Unflinching, unafraid, and even taunting. The noise around Henry is blocked out just for the purpose of hearing her hauntingly calm whisper.]
[Her thoughts and memories brush against his mind—he’s psychic, after all, and more importantly, uncaring about the boundary lines between mental spaces right now—though he receives only passive fragments. Flickering images in the mind’s eye. A young girl suspended, a creature, a cruel teacher. Associations being drawn.
Henry mentally shoves it away. Why does he care. He doesn’t.
When she looks at him, she’s the very image of defiance. And his reaction could go either way — take himself up on his threat, or not. But perhaps it’s the oddity of the dim memory he picked up on that causes him to not follow through. Maybe she can provide him answers, and if he tries to kill her outright, it would be a momentary loss on his part. He scowls, but ultimately—
He tosses her aside. There’s nothing kind about it. And he’s still scowling, tracking her with his eyes, no matter how gracefully or ungracefully she lands in the sand.]
You—
[By the way, have we mentioned in the metatext enough that it’s really, really hot on this beach? For a lich-man turned semi-human again? It’s like he’s being cooked alive. Damn it. His skin feels like it’s on fire, and he clenches his teeth, the pain causing him to double over on wobbly feet. Eventually, he presses his knee into the sand, fighting against the sensation. Hold that thought.]
[When she's released Amelia lands on the ground with a grunt. Her palms skid across the sand and she lets out a breath of shaky relief. The teens are calling out their teacher's name and Khanh starts to run to her before Amelia holds up a hand to stop any of them from coming over.
Her gaze never leaves Henry as he falls to his knees. The sunlight, she realizes quickly. There's really no nearby shelter to run to and although he's enraged and full of latent psychic power that could throw her around she has the high ground.
No better time to act. The witch traces green glowing runes into the sand and the written spell travels across the surface and encircles Henry. Should he try to move outside of the new boundary, he'll find himself unable.
Of course her students are gawking in disbelief. This will be a headache and a half to cover up and make sure everyone is mentally sound despite the blank space in their memory. They can at least have something important to faintly remember this by.
Everything is a teaching moment.
Amelia stands up and in her teacher's voice she speaks up and it gets their attention.]
Class. You're all going to graduate soon.
[More spells written in the air and they're sent to bind the man's ankles.]
You're going to face some real hardships where assholes like you see in front of you think they can push you around.
[Next his wrists. Then his torso. Green magical energy encircles these parts for complete immobilization and all the students can do is stare in awe.]
My advice as your teacher? You give no quarter and give no inch. And if you have to...
[And finally, the sunlight. What's shining down on Henry suddenly flashes, enough to blind and more than enough to burn.]
... You kick them while they're down so they can't hurt you again.
[can't believe henry FINALLY gets to leave the upside down and this is how he's treated
It isn't sunlight so much as it's heat; a hot and balmy day hurts him, though the sun beating down certainly only adds to that sensation. Despite his human shape, it's clear that some of his biology hasn't changed, including this awful, awful weakness to heat and fire.
But if there's one thing that Henry hates more, it's being trapped and caged. Strange green energy encircles where he's fallen in the sand, and soon that same glow snakes up and clenches around his limbs, his torso, immobilizing him completely. He tugs against them harshly, but physically? Like this, Henry is weak. Mentally? Not so much.
He's furious, pain and that awful feeling of not being free intermingling and fueling his outburst. Henry lets free an almost animalistic yell, and his powers push out in a radius around him. It's incredibly potent, incredibly powerful, it kicks up so much sand as it expands outward, and it will knock back absolutely anything that gets in its way.
And that power draws disconcertingly near, cut off only when Amelia shines down a heated blast of light, and Henry's anger twists into pain again, eyes clenched tightly closed against the radiance. It's so bright and hot it feels like it cuts right through him, how dare she, he'll kill her for this-
[Everyone including the witch cover their eyes with their arms from the sand. Some of them are knocked back anyways from the sheer force. But it's finally over.
Inhale. Exhale. And again. The ocean breeze makes her red hair move wildly as they all watch Henry pass out. There is sweet silence all around except for the lapping waves crashing against rocks and the murmurs of curious onlookers who noticed the ruckus from a distance. The teenagers are stunned to say the least.
Amelia turns to look at her class. In their eyes are looks of confusion, awe, admiration, and some fear.
It was harrowing, but nice that she got to show her true self to her students if only for a minute.]
Ramos. May I borrow your phone?
🌹🌹🌹
[Espers in law enforcement work fast. Minds were molded and memories of the last few hours wiped clean. Details are filled in with hypnosis.
Amelia, much to the chagrin of the leading esper in charge, does not turn the bound and burned man over. But they don't argue with the Emerald Witch. Her methods tend to benefit them in the end.
There are enough supervisors at the writers workshop so Amelia could easily slip away with her new load. Debating where to place him, she decides that he can be considered an extremely rude guest and sit in the living room on his own sofa chair. Bound of course but sitting comfortably.
He'll be positioned in front of the window where he can also see the her flower garden. Rather decent treatment for the prisoner all things considered.
While Amelia winds down in the kitchen and goes through her list of contacts to see whom she'll consult with next, her temporary help, in the form of a dark-haired and sweet faced golem does chores and checks up on Henry every hour or so.
Emil looks at Henry from a few feet away and remarks to Amelia:]
[There’s more than one thing that stuck, biologically at least, no matter the body — or so it would seem. When Henry awakens, the burning sensation is long gone, his skin showing no signs of previous trauma, as though it had taken the time to heal on its own. So the pain’s gone, at least, especially since when he awakens, it’s more than clear he’s indoors.
(Though the sight of flowers actually disarms him for a moment, bright and swaying as they are through the window pane. How long as it been since he’s seen flowers—)
Henry remembers, then, in one full sweep of inbound memory, what had happened. The beach. That red-headed woman and her strange abilities. His jaw grits and the first thing he does is look around him and test his magical bindings, straining against them, that hot flash of anger still in his eyes, though perhaps slightly more dulled than before. He might be healed superficially, but he is still overwrought.
Emil has the misfortune of being the first “person” Henry catches with his glare.]
Let me go.
[Said in a growl. He might be restrained, but what good does that do against a psychic? Even Papa had enough sense to cut off his powers with an implant in his neck, and if they aren’t wise enough to do so here, then of course he’ll lash out.
His telekinesis grabs hold of poor Emil I’m sorry Emil doesn’t deserve this, wrenching him forward to slam his face against the window pane. Hard.]
[The young man barely has time to react. Oddly enough, there's hardly a reaction not even in the form of a scream or noise of indignation when his head slams against the window pane. The glass doesn't break but the impact causes something else to shatter.
Specifically, a portion of his head that drops to the floor along with the rest of his body. An obsidian eye stares at Henry from the floor blinking rapidly.
Amelia rushes over in a panic. Kneeling before Emil she first points a finger at Henry and a green rune flies at his forehead.
"Disable."
Simple, effective, and he can't use his powers whatever they are for now when her back is turned.]
EMIL! Oh my god-!! Berna is going to kill me!
"I'm okay!"
[Emil's voice is jarringly cheerful as he sits up. It's probably a good time to mention that there's no blood, huh? From Henry's line of sight, he will have a good view of the inside of the boy's head. Instead of viscera and gore, it is a cluster of crystals. As light bounces off it, the mysterious rock shimmers in hues of red and gold and pulses as if alive; it is alive and someone like Henry would be able to sense that much.
The golem looks dazed but somewhat amused.]
"Whoa! I've never been shattered before. I'll get to hold my own head for the first time!"
[He can't even feel satisfied at watching Emil's head literally crack open upon hitting the window pane; it's exactly what he wanted, but he's still trapped, and now that woman is etching that emerald energy, sending a rune tingling against the skin of his forehead, and it's like a switch's been flipped again.
No more powers. Again.
Now Henry's really pissed. Trapped and devoid of his abilities reeks too much like Hawkins National Lab, even if HNL wasn't nearly as homey as wherever the hell he is now.
He strains against his bindings, but he's just a noodle boy without his powers. Without his lich body. Henry Creel can't do shit with no psionic abilities.]
I said let me go!
[He, of course, notices the hole in Emil's head, filled with crystals. And though it is baffling, and surreal, what does it say about the place he apparently comes from that it isn't as... shocking as it should be? Not enough to still him, or make his jaw drop. He just scowls at them both, eyes like knives.]
[Amelia sighs with relief as Emil stands up picking up the portion of his broken head.]
Just... Focus on fixing yourself Emil. I'll try to patch up the rest before sending you back.
[Then she glares at Henry. This utter man child has the gall to tell her what to? The witch stands up and marches up to him shaking her finger like a mother would to scold a child.]
You are going to have your voice muted young man if you don't calm the hell down. I've already taken your movement and your powers for the moment. Want me to take your voice as well?
Henry can do nothing more but glare up at her, but glare he does. Sneers, even.]
Why should I stay calm after you'd tied me up and taken my powers away? If you think I'm going to sit here and happily be a prisoner again in some other world-
[Yes, he's also cottoned on that this must be some. Inane reality. The concept must not be too wild for him. But he still assumes ill-intent, simply because he isn't gracious enough to give anyone the benefit of the doubt right now.]
Amelia crosses her arms and taps one foot impatiently waiting for her turn to speak. She scoffs and rolls her eyes.]
I'm sorry? I feel like the light I burned you with must have caused you brain damage considering the fact that you have conveniently forgotten that you were the one that struck first. Not me. You.
[There's that finger jabbing in the air again.]
I don't think it's unreasonable of me to bind you down so you can't move or lock away your abilities with a rune. You know, just in case you want to snap my neck and do a proper job unlike the first time.
But keep going. Give me another reason to think you won't cooperate and settle down without trying to inflict your ESP on me.
[And he says it like he means it, like this is a man who would do precisely that when he thinks he's being treated unfairly. Even if Amelia does have a point.
He strains in his magical shackles again, but despite his stubbornness, he's definitely not getting out of these.]
That's not what I meant. What did you do to my body? Why am I like this again? You think this is some kind of joke?
[Well, he definitely means it. That means extra effort will have to be put into being extra vigilant. Emil stands behind Amelia glancing worriedly back and forth between Henry and her while holding onto his eerie broken body part. Henry's insistence on getting an answer about his body makes the witch's brow furrow.
So the implication was he wasn't human before appearing on the beach? And he said 'again' which means originally human, then not, and back. That's... Something to think about. Amelia's glad she didn't turn him over to any of the esper communes now.
She shakes her head.]
That, I don't have an answer to. Mostly because we've just literally met and I know nothing about you. There's no joke to be made if I'm completely devoid of any contexts.
[She wants context? Sure, that’s a reasonable request, but Henry scoffs.]
You can’t tell me I’ve arrived in a completely different world, in an old body, for no reason at all. Someone or something is responsible, and you haven’t given me reason to believe that it wasn’t you.
[Zero trust!!]
If the veil between worlds could be torn that easily, I would have done it well before now. So I know it’s not me.
[Before Amelia can snap back impatiently ("I think at this point, it's obvious this is a different world!" or something to that effect), it's actually Emil who speaks up.]
"Um. Sir?"
[He steps out from behind the witch and while the witch blinks she doesn't stop him.]
"Do you have magic golems like me where you're from? "
[He holds up the portion of his crystalline head for emphasis. Both smooth black eyes blink at Henry for emphasis. The golden red light in the gem's interior pulses like a heartbeat.]
"If it's a yes, then maybe the lines aren't that well defined. If it's a no... Then I think that means you're somewhere different."
[...
Amelia pats Emil's (undamaged) head. He's trying to help, poor thing.]
[Poor Emil. He actually flinches at Henry's outburst and clutches his part to his chest.]
...
[Amelia silently takes it and puts Emil's head back together. There's still a noticeable crack through his face and forehead and his hairline is a little off, but he can be fixed with no problem. His sad face, however?
Well, Amelia will take on Berna's wrath either way. She urges the golem to take refuge in one of her rooms. When the young man leaves, Amelia turns to Henry again.]
... The veil of this world has always been rather thin. Whether it's by design or just how it is...
[Her voice this time, is solemn.
She does think it's on purpose; her teacher treats this reality as an open playground, taunting others to try and take it and see if they're any match for his children and his magic.]
Otherwise... Why you're here? Why you're back in a body you say you aren't supposed to be in? I don't know why. I don't have that answer. But I do know this; first, I am not at fault.
Secondly, illogical things happen and there's nothing you can do about it.
[She would know.]
If you want to blame me, fine. You're confused, you're furious, and you want to be in control. But I am quite possibly the worst opponent you can try and vent your anger on.
[His jaw sets. The anger is far from abating, but at least Henry’s no longer yelling, only now speaking in low, dangerous tones since poor Emil left.]
Is that right?
[Henry’s hardly wary, the warning not enough to dissuade him, but before he responds, he turns over what she’s said in his mind. The veil of this world, particularly thin? Thin enough that holes are punched in it even when his target was never to arrive here, but in Hawkins?
It sounds so obscenely absurd, but now there’s talk of magic, and golems, and Henry is far from unfamiliar with strange things existing in strange worlds. Even in his own world, he is an anomaly. Why should this be different? This isn’t a matter of disbelief, but pure irritation directed at all of his plans now uprooted.
So she’s right about one thing: he feels no sense of control over any of what’s happening. Just one more instance of a loss of freedom, in a lifetime full of it.]
Whoever you think you are, I don’t care. If you’re going to keep me tied up, you’re not going to win me over.
[She doesn't say anything at first. Then she shrugs.]
Well. I don't think your problems will be solved by killing me or anyone else in this world if I unbind you.
[She had considered undoing the runes around his wrists, torso, and ankles as long as the rune that disabled is active. But he's also very rude and angry and she's had a long day and the writer's workshop is almost over and she needs to get ready for the high school graduation ceremony, recommendation letters, next year's curriculum, and ahhhhhhhhhhhHHHHhhhh.
The witch rubs her temple with one palm. Sets it down. Looks at the man.]
My name is Amelia.
[First things first.]
Amelia Eva Steinbeck. Sure, you don't care. Fine. Okay. That's out of the way.
I care about what your name is. I'm not going to be saying, "you" this whole time.
[More silence. Then she nods after making an internal decision in her head.]
Alright, then Henry.
[The witch rubs her hands together and begins to write in the air. The arcane script begins to appear with the same green glow as the ones that currently bind Henry. When she finishes, the shimmering runes expand and sink to the floor, stretching out from the kitchen, through the large living room that they're currently standing in, and into the front garden.
The sound of windchimes echoes in the house. They were hanging above Henry's head since they decorate most of the living room ceiling but they were quite silent up until now. Several chimes of various designs reposition themselves around the man and a few reinforce the barrier outside.
It's a very elaborate boundary. One Amelia can freely move back and forth in but will keep him within the perimeters she has just set. If Henry tries crossing the boundary he will simply be blocked by an invisible wall.
And after deliberating the magic fasteners around Henry's wrists, ankles, and torso glisten and then blink away.
He can move. But no powers. Not yet, probably not for a while. Amelia takes a few strategic steps back just right outside the barrier she made to see what Henry does.]
[The magic dissipates around his limbs, freeing him; and while it proves to make him appear less like a prisoner, Henry isn't dumb enough to think this still isn't the case. While not fluent in spellcraft, he remembers where that shimmering green started and ended, and he has a distinct feeling those are the not-so-figurative bars of his newfound cage.
Henry stands, head craning up to look at the windchimes above. They seem to have a life of their own, and his brow cinches together to pair with his deep, displeased frown. All of this is such a different brand of fantastical than he's used to -- which is saying plenty since he's been stuck in a hellish, untamed dimension for seven years.
He turns to look at her, but he doesn't approach. At least this is a marked improvement over his demeanor at the beach, but there's probably a sense that that is just roiling under the surface, instead.]
[Amelia on her part, will not be letting her guard down around Henry for a second. Her green eyes follow him as he stands and examines her windchimes and she keeps her gaze when he looks at her. When he asks his question she intertwines her fingers together and is the very image of poised and composed.]
I'm a high school teacher.
[Not that he would remember during his rampage on the beach. It probably wasn't the best time to establish that.]
[A high school teacher by day, witch... all the rest of the time? How droll, he thinks to himself, utterly sardonic.
She's right to keep an eye on him. Right now, he's like a caged animal. (Or an angry eldritch cat liable to hiss and look for a way to sneak out.) But her magic that disables him holds on steadfast, so without his abilities, he really is little more than a lanky, blond, six foot human man, nothing terribly special about him.]
So that's what all this is?
["This" equates to everything. Her magic that bound him, the one that keeps him from accessing his powers. The windchimes overhead. This large cage she's keeping him in, which is a cage all the same. Henry tilts his head and chances a single step in her direction.]
[Amelia nods although there's a sarcastic and patronizing air to it.]
Yes. That is the idea.
[She doesn't move from her spot even as he takes a step.]
In this world, magic is broadly speaking a way to impose your will upon reality and make the impossible, possible. Espers or those with psychic-related powers also exist alongside magickind. What you displayed back on the beach is similar if not outright the same as what they do. Or at least the very powerful ones do anyways.
[So of all the universes Henry Creel has landed in, he had to encounter the one with an extremely powerful witch who could upend her own reality.]
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sunfloras2023-04-20 07:42 pm
no subject
The pressure is enormous. She feels the imminent pain down to the marrow of her bones and it feels like the sensation of death.
Ah. It's been a long while.
She's a small shuddering child, suspended in the air, at the mercy of some creature that reaches for her with greedy limbs while her teacher stands below smiling blithely and giving her a wave. It's a cruel and dismissive gesture that only tells her one thing.
Figure it out yourself or die.
When Amelia opens her eyes she stares right back into the raw anger of this man's blue eyes. Unflinching, unafraid, and even taunting. The noise around Henry is blocked out just for the purpose of hearing her hauntingly calm whisper.]
Go ahead.
Try it and find out.
no subject
Henry mentally shoves it away. Why does he care. He doesn’t.
When she looks at him, she’s the very image of defiance. And his reaction could go either way — take himself up on his threat, or not. But perhaps it’s the oddity of the dim memory he picked up on that causes him to not follow through. Maybe she can provide him answers, and if he tries to kill her outright, it would be a momentary loss on his part. He scowls, but ultimately—
He tosses her aside. There’s nothing kind about it. And he’s still scowling, tracking her with his eyes, no matter how gracefully or ungracefully she lands in the sand.]
You—
[By the way, have we mentioned in the metatext enough that it’s really, really hot on this beach? For a lich-man turned semi-human again? It’s like he’s being cooked alive. Damn it. His skin feels like it’s on fire, and he clenches his teeth, the pain causing him to double over on wobbly feet. Eventually, he presses his knee into the sand, fighting against the sensation. Hold that thought.]
no subject
Her gaze never leaves Henry as he falls to his knees. The sunlight, she realizes quickly. There's really no nearby shelter to run to and although he's enraged and full of latent psychic power that could throw her around she has the high ground.
No better time to act. The witch traces green glowing runes into the sand and the written spell travels across the surface and encircles Henry. Should he try to move outside of the new boundary, he'll find himself unable.
Of course her students are gawking in disbelief. This will be a headache and a half to cover up and make sure everyone is mentally sound despite the blank space in their memory. They can at least have something important to faintly remember this by.
Everything is a teaching moment.
Amelia stands up and in her teacher's voice she speaks up and it gets their attention.]
Class. You're all going to graduate soon.
[More spells written in the air and they're sent to bind the man's ankles.]
You're going to face some real hardships where assholes like you see in front of you think they can push you around.
[Next his wrists. Then his torso. Green magical energy encircles these parts for complete immobilization and all the students can do is stare in awe.]
My advice as your teacher? You give no quarter and give no inch. And if you have to...
[And finally, the sunlight. What's shining down on Henry suddenly flashes, enough to blind and more than enough to burn.]
... You kick them while they're down so they can't hurt you again.
no subject
It isn't sunlight so much as it's heat; a hot and balmy day hurts him, though the sun beating down certainly only adds to that sensation. Despite his human shape, it's clear that some of his biology hasn't changed, including this awful, awful weakness to heat and fire.
But if there's one thing that Henry hates more, it's being trapped and caged. Strange green energy encircles where he's fallen in the sand, and soon that same glow snakes up and clenches around his limbs, his torso, immobilizing him completely. He tugs against them harshly, but physically? Like this, Henry is weak. Mentally? Not so much.
He's furious, pain and that awful feeling of not being free intermingling and fueling his outburst. Henry lets free an almost animalistic yell, and his powers push out in a radius around him. It's incredibly potent, incredibly powerful, it kicks up so much sand as it expands outward, and it will knock back absolutely anything that gets in its way.
And that power draws disconcertingly near, cut off only when Amelia shines down a heated blast of light, and Henry's anger twists into pain again, eyes clenched tightly closed against the radiance. It's so bright and hot it feels like it cuts right through him, how dare she, he'll kill her for this-
Then, unceremoniously, he passes out.]
no subject
Inhale. Exhale. And again. The ocean breeze makes her red hair move wildly as they all watch Henry pass out. There is sweet silence all around except for the lapping waves crashing against rocks and the murmurs of curious onlookers who noticed the ruckus from a distance. The teenagers are stunned to say the least.
Amelia turns to look at her class. In their eyes are looks of confusion, awe, admiration, and some fear.
It was harrowing, but nice that she got to show her true self to her students if only for a minute.]
Ramos. May I borrow your phone?
[Espers in law enforcement work fast. Minds were molded and memories of the last few hours wiped clean. Details are filled in with hypnosis.
Amelia, much to the chagrin of the leading esper in charge, does not turn the bound and burned man over. But they don't argue with the Emerald Witch. Her methods tend to benefit them in the end.
There are enough supervisors at the writers workshop so Amelia could easily slip away with her new load. Debating where to place him, she decides that he can be considered an extremely rude guest and sit in the living room on his own sofa chair. Bound of course but sitting comfortably.
He'll be positioned in front of the window where he can also see the her flower garden. Rather decent treatment for the prisoner all things considered.
While Amelia winds down in the kitchen and goes through her list of contacts to see whom she'll consult with next, her temporary help, in the form of a dark-haired and sweet faced golem does chores and checks up on Henry every hour or so.
Emil looks at Henry from a few feet away and remarks to Amelia:]
"Ms. Steinbeck? I think he's almost awake."
Mm? Ah, got it. Let's see if he's cooled down.
no subject
(Though the sight of flowers actually disarms him for a moment, bright and swaying as they are through the window pane. How long as it been since he’s seen flowers—)
Henry remembers, then, in one full sweep of inbound memory, what had happened. The beach. That red-headed woman and her strange abilities. His jaw grits and the first thing he does is look around him and test his magical bindings, straining against them, that hot flash of anger still in his eyes, though perhaps slightly more dulled than before. He might be healed superficially, but he is still overwrought.
Emil has the misfortune of being the first “person” Henry catches with his glare.]
Let me go.
[Said in a growl. He might be restrained, but what good does that do against a psychic? Even Papa had enough sense to cut off his powers with an implant in his neck, and if they aren’t wise enough to do so here, then of course he’ll lash out.
His telekinesis grabs hold of poor Emil
I’m sorry Emil doesn’t deserve this, wrenching him forward to slam his face against the window pane. Hard.]no subject
Specifically, a portion of his head that drops to the floor along with the rest of his body. An obsidian eye stares at Henry from the floor blinking rapidly.
Amelia rushes over in a panic. Kneeling before Emil she first points a finger at Henry and a green rune flies at his forehead.
"Disable."
Simple, effective, and he can't use his powers whatever they are for now when her back is turned.]
EMIL! Oh my god-!! Berna is going to kill me!
"I'm okay!"
[Emil's voice is jarringly cheerful as he sits up. It's probably a good time to mention that there's no blood, huh? From Henry's line of sight, he will have a good view of the inside of the boy's head. Instead of viscera and gore, it is a cluster of crystals. As light bounces off it, the mysterious rock shimmers in hues of red and gold and pulses as if alive; it is alive and someone like Henry would be able to sense that much.
The golem looks dazed but somewhat amused.]
"Whoa! I've never been shattered before. I'll get to hold my own head for the first time!"
no subject
No more powers. Again.
Now Henry's really pissed. Trapped and devoid of his abilities reeks too much like Hawkins National Lab, even if HNL wasn't nearly as homey as wherever the hell he is now.
He strains against his bindings, but he's just a noodle boy without his powers. Without his lich body. Henry Creel can't do shit with no psionic abilities.]
I said let me go!
[He, of course, notices the hole in Emil's head, filled with crystals. And though it is baffling, and surreal, what does it say about the place he apparently comes from that it isn't as... shocking as it should be? Not enough to still him, or make his jaw drop. He just scowls at them both, eyes like knives.]
You're going to regret this-
no subject
Just... Focus on fixing yourself Emil. I'll try to patch up the rest before sending you back.
[Then she glares at Henry. This utter man child has the gall to tell her what to? The witch stands up and marches up to him shaking her finger like a mother would to scold a child.]
You are going to have your voice muted young man if you don't calm the hell down. I've already taken your movement and your powers for the moment. Want me to take your voice as well?
no subject
Henry can do nothing more but glare up at her, but glare he does. Sneers, even.]
Why should I stay calm after you'd tied me up and taken my powers away? If you think I'm going to sit here and happily be a prisoner again in some other world-
[Yes, he's also cottoned on that this must be some. Inane reality. The concept must not be too wild for him. But he still assumes ill-intent, simply because he isn't gracious enough to give anyone the benefit of the doubt right now.]
What did you do to me?
no subject
Amelia crosses her arms and taps one foot impatiently waiting for her turn to speak. She scoffs and rolls her eyes.]
I'm sorry? I feel like the light I burned you with must have caused you brain damage considering the fact that you have conveniently forgotten that you were the one that struck first. Not me. You.
[There's that finger jabbing in the air again.]
I don't think it's unreasonable of me to bind you down so you can't move or lock away your abilities with a rune. You know, just in case you want to snap my neck and do a proper job unlike the first time.
But keep going. Give me another reason to think you won't cooperate and settle down without trying to inflict your ESP on me.
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[And he says it like he means it, like this is a man who would do precisely that when he thinks he's being treated unfairly. Even if Amelia does have a point.
He strains in his magical shackles again, but despite his stubbornness, he's definitely not getting out of these.]
That's not what I meant. What did you do to my body? Why am I like this again? You think this is some kind of joke?
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So the implication was he wasn't human before appearing on the beach? And he said 'again' which means originally human, then not, and back. That's... Something to think about. Amelia's glad she didn't turn him over to any of the esper communes now.
She shakes her head.]
That, I don't have an answer to. Mostly because we've just literally met and I know nothing about you. There's no joke to be made if I'm completely devoid of any contexts.
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You can’t tell me I’ve arrived in a completely different world, in an old body, for no reason at all. Someone or something is responsible, and you haven’t given me reason to believe that it wasn’t you.
[Zero trust!!]
If the veil between worlds could be torn that easily, I would have done it well before now. So I know it’s not me.
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"Um. Sir?"
[He steps out from behind the witch and while the witch blinks she doesn't stop him.]
"Do you have magic golems like me where you're from? "
[He holds up the portion of his crystalline head for emphasis. Both smooth black eyes blink at Henry for emphasis. The golden red light in the gem's interior pulses like a heartbeat.]
"If it's a yes, then maybe the lines aren't that well defined. If it's a no... Then I think that means you're somewhere different."
[...
Amelia pats Emil's (undamaged) head. He's trying to help, poor thing.]
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I know it’s another world!
[He snaps, ice-like furor again, at poor Emil who doesn’t deserve Henry Creel’s wrath.]
I’m not an idiot! I can see this is someplace where I’m not supposed to be, not the world that I care about returning to!
[He wants to use his powers to tear everything apart. Good thing he can’t.]
I want to know why that is!
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...
[Amelia silently takes it and puts Emil's head back together. There's still a noticeable crack through his face and forehead and his hairline is a little off, but he can be fixed with no problem. His sad face, however?
Well, Amelia will take on Berna's wrath either way. She urges the golem to take refuge in one of her rooms. When the young man leaves, Amelia turns to Henry again.]
... The veil of this world has always been rather thin. Whether it's by design or just how it is...
[Her voice this time, is solemn.
She does think it's on purpose; her teacher treats this reality as an open playground, taunting others to try and take it and see if they're any match for his children and his magic.]
Otherwise... Why you're here? Why you're back in a body you say you aren't supposed to be in? I don't know why. I don't have that answer. But I do know this; first, I am not at fault.
Secondly, illogical things happen and there's nothing you can do about it.
[She would know.]
If you want to blame me, fine. You're confused, you're furious, and you want to be in control. But I am quite possibly the worst opponent you can try and vent your anger on.
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Is that right?
[Henry’s hardly wary, the warning not enough to dissuade him, but before he responds, he turns over what she’s said in his mind. The veil of this world, particularly thin? Thin enough that holes are punched in it even when his target was never to arrive here, but in Hawkins?
It sounds so obscenely absurd, but now there’s talk of magic, and golems, and Henry is far from unfamiliar with strange things existing in strange worlds. Even in his own world, he is an anomaly. Why should this be different? This isn’t a matter of disbelief, but pure irritation directed at all of his plans now uprooted.
So she’s right about one thing: he feels no sense of control over any of what’s happening. Just one more instance of a loss of freedom, in a lifetime full of it.]
Whoever you think you are, I don’t care. If you’re going to keep me tied up, you’re not going to win me over.
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Well. I don't think your problems will be solved by killing me or anyone else in this world if I unbind you.
[She had considered undoing the runes around his wrists, torso, and ankles as long as the rune that disabled is active. But he's also very rude and angry and she's had a long day and the writer's workshop is almost over and she needs to get ready for the high school graduation ceremony, recommendation letters, next year's curriculum, and ahhhhhhhhhhhHHHHhhhh.
The witch rubs her temple with one palm. Sets it down. Looks at the man.]
My name is Amelia.
[First things first.]
Amelia Eva Steinbeck. Sure, you don't care. Fine. Okay. That's out of the way.
I care about what your name is. I'm not going to be saying, "you" this whole time.
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He looks at her, bright blue eyes piercing, letting silence fall between them.]
Henry. Henry Creel.
[Fine, she’s won that much from him, even if it is like pulling teeth.]
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Alright, then Henry.
[The witch rubs her hands together and begins to write in the air. The arcane script begins to appear with the same green glow as the ones that currently bind Henry. When she finishes, the shimmering runes expand and sink to the floor, stretching out from the kitchen, through the large living room that they're currently standing in, and into the front garden.
The sound of windchimes echoes in the house. They were hanging above Henry's head since they decorate most of the living room ceiling but they were quite silent up until now. Several chimes of various designs reposition themselves around the man and a few reinforce the barrier outside.
It's a very elaborate boundary. One Amelia can freely move back and forth in but will keep him within the perimeters she has just set. If Henry tries crossing the boundary he will simply be blocked by an invisible wall.
And after deliberating the magic fasteners around Henry's wrists, ankles, and torso glisten and then blink away.
He can move. But no powers. Not yet, probably not for a while. Amelia takes a few strategic steps back just right outside the barrier she made to see what Henry does.]
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Henry stands, head craning up to look at the windchimes above. They seem to have a life of their own, and his brow cinches together to pair with his deep, displeased frown. All of this is such a different brand of fantastical than he's used to -- which is saying plenty since he's been stuck in a hellish, untamed dimension for seven years.
He turns to look at her, but he doesn't approach. At least this is a marked improvement over his demeanor at the beach, but there's probably a sense that that is just roiling under the surface, instead.]
What are you supposed to be, exactly?
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I'm a high school teacher.
[Not that he would remember during his rampage on the beach. It probably wasn't the best time to establish that.]
And I am also a witch.
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She's right to keep an eye on him. Right now, he's like a caged animal. (Or an angry eldritch cat liable to hiss and look for a way to sneak out.) But her magic that disables him holds on steadfast, so without his abilities, he really is little more than a lanky, blond, six foot human man, nothing terribly special about him.]
So that's what all this is?
["This" equates to everything. Her magic that bound him, the one that keeps him from accessing his powers. The windchimes overhead. This large cage she's keeping him in, which is a cage all the same. Henry tilts his head and chances a single step in her direction.]
You're a witch casting... magic?
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Yes. That is the idea.
[She doesn't move from her spot even as he takes a step.]
In this world, magic is broadly speaking a way to impose your will upon reality and make the impossible, possible. Espers or those with psychic-related powers also exist alongside magickind. What you displayed back on the beach is similar if not outright the same as what they do. Or at least the very powerful ones do anyways.
[So of all the universes Henry Creel has landed in, he had to encounter the one with an extremely powerful witch who could upend her own reality.]
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