[It's... strange, to do anything like this. To be outside, to watch someone grill and try to inform him about the ingredients that make up a Korean BBQ. To engage in idle chatter, though Henry remains mostly quiet throughout. To earn a mandarin orange slice from a child -- and realizing the weight behind it, knowing how children are.
These are all mundane things, the roteness that Henry had disliked so much when he was twelve, and all those years after. It had always felt like a facade, like happiness was a mask, or that everyone was marching to the beat of a ticking clock, playing their parts until life was wrung from them. Wasted, withered away. Pretending to smile the whole time.
And this outing isn't enough to change his mind—no, these are long-ingrained thoughts of his, steel walls he’s built up around himself, hard to crack without knowing where to needle in—but even Henry Creel has to admit: it isn’t as bad as it could be.
Especially once this mundanity gives way to something far more enticing, something that draws his attention to the swath of stars in the sky, the atmosphere changing, the reflection of a swollen, blue moon. The reflection of it catches in the own blue of his eyes as he look at Amelia, hitching his brow up and grinning that little grin of his. This bit should be interesting.]
[River gives the rest of them a thumbs up from the truck. He'll be making the boxes slide down and also just keep an eye out in general on the surface. Meanwhile, Amelia has the siblings hold hands as she uses one hand to encase them in a box of runes. The box wobbles and stretches, transforming into a more spherical bubble. The instructions are concise.]
Walk into the water and then touch the bottom to sink down in the reflection. When you're done with your visit, touch the top and keep it there to sail back to shore. Got it?
[They nod and Simon leads Emily to the water. Their rune bubble keeps their feet dry and the brother leads their descent when they walk on top of the blue moon reflection. Slowly they sink down and disappear.
It's Amelia and Henry's turn now. She stands next to him and performs the same spell to encase them in a magic bubble. The witch mutters some stray thoughts as she finishes it up.]
And no ear popping so underwater pressure shouldn't be a bother ... There we go.
[They're fully enclosed now. Amelia looks at Henry and holds out one hand.]
Might be a good idea to hold on. [She hesitates and then adds.]
[The young ones are fearless, aren't they? He's sure that's a phobia of many, being sent underwater and knowing there's a creature lurking beneath.
But maybe Henry is fated to always see things through that lens, despite the beauty around him. If nothing else, he's probably just as curious as the kids.]
Hm?
[He's distracted briefly by the shimmer of their magic bubble when Amelia's question dislodges his observations. He tilts his head in her direction, eyes moving from her hand and right back up to her face.]
In case I get swept away? [He reaches out, clasping her hand with his long fingers.] Why wouldn't I want to?
[As their fingers thread together, Amelia tries to remain focused and in the present. Tries not to be aware of the unfamiliarity of his touch and the magic humming beneath her fingers, fresh from spellcasting. She takes a deep breath, hugging the box closer to her chest.
When Henry asks why he would opt out she answers honestly.]
I don't know.
[Her hand around his is oddly gentle.]
We're going in.
[And so she leads the both of them into the water. They glide on the surface at first and stop when in the middle of the blue moon's reflection. Since both of her hands are occupied, she uses one foot to press on the bottom of their bubble. The runes glow and they begin to sink beneath the water. It surrounds them but they remain dry and the air fresh as if they were on the surface.]
[An oddly honest answer? A gentle touch? Oh, if only he could just pierce through that head of hers again, and understand exactly what's going on-- But no, he's not about to shatter that tenuously-built trust once more, and so soon. Especially since her magic is likely the only thing that's going to keep him frown drowning at the bottom of a lake.
...Interesting, though.
His grip is gentle, too, all too aware of their hands if only because this is an anomaly for him. And the fact that, despite his teasing, he would certainly like to remain connected in case something wild and unexpected happens. But surely not!
When they sink beneath the water, Henry is really not sure what to think. It's like being engulfed by the lake, except completely dry, able to breathe; almost as though the water were nothing more than an illusion in which they were mere observers. He cranes his neck up to see the bright light of the moon trying to pierce through the lake's surface.]
This is...
[He doesn't have the words. For a man gone flying through dimensions, stuck in an alien world for years, this counts for something. This is certainly more beautiful than that, fractal lights scattering across Amelia's veil of magic.]
[They sink deeper and deeper and at first it looks like unfathomable darkness with no bottom as they move further away.]
The Belly lives in the reflection for a reason.
[Lakes are definitely deep but it shouldn't be this vast. The green runes keep things lit for them and at first, there's nothing but fish and plant life swaying gently around them. And then stars— no, bubbles, fly around them and they are aglow with blue and white light, and as they stand in their protective bubble it's like they're floating through space instead of underwater. There are fish that swim past their faces. They have the shape of your usual bass, bluegills, and trouts but it's their neon-colored scales, and their size (many of then human-sized) and patterning and giant unusual eyes that give away their otherworldliness. There appears to be no true bottom within this reflected world.
But where is the Blue Moon Belly?
Soon they can see the siblings in their own bubble, waving to Amelia and Henry. And in the distance, there is the outline of a gargantuan shape moving back and forth sweeping up the vague shadows of boxes that are sinking into the water.
Without letting go of Henry's hand, she holds out the coffin box for him to take.]
Here. You're going to offer this to him. Oh and... Since it seems like you're able to communicate, could you call him over?
[Okay, fine. This one experience is definitely on the same level of fantastical as that other dimension, and far, far more pleasant to view. He isn't the sort of man to appreciate beauty as an aesthetic more than just distantly, but his innate curiosity about the creatures that drift past--are there predators among them?--flares too much for him to ignore. Henry turns his head, watching scaled fishes far too big swim by. Their scales shimmer and almost glow, even this deep below the surface of the lake.
And... well. Speaking of predators. Down below, a huge shape wends around the boxes plummeting downwards. Their friend, he supposes.
Henry takes the coffin-box, still looking downwards, his demeanor a bit childlike itself now, focused wholly on this new experience. He cinches his brows together.]
[It swims towards them, closer, closer, and closer...
On the surface, the lake creature changes its shape to sneak around humans and as a result, it appears rather out of place, goofy even, what with how it awkwardly walks on its hind legs, its surface skin slimy, and its color a duller blue-grey.
Here within the reflection of the moon?
The Blue Moon Belly is basically a Leviathan.
It's like staring at a cruise-ship-sized monster that blinks back at them with dark expectant eyes. The Belly is a shade of a smooth pastel blue and the sheer size of it has Emily in the other bubble laughing with delight and Simon smiling.
The Belly addresses them all with a low hum that sends a vibration across their bubbles. And then it speaks to Henry.]
"Thank you for visiting me. I do not receive many guests but it is always heartening when I do. The Emerald Witch told me that you are from another world and that you aren't familiar with the ways of this side. Therefore, I hope you enjoy my home within the blue moon's light.
[Oh, it's... big. Massively so. This is a far cry from the creature that was raiding Amelia's pantry and fridge not so long ago.
Henry doesn't bother to hide his surprise, blue eyes widening. He doesn't even look at Amelia... He just pushes the coffin through the edge of the magic bubble.]
Thank you. Your home is unlike anything I've ever seen.
And you look very different compared to when I last saw you.
[He is a very happy monster with all this food and attention. The Belly lets out what could be a chuckle which rocks their bubbles back and forth.]
"This is my true self. I cannot appear this way on land, lest I be labeled a calamity and hunted down. No, this arrangement I have with the Emerald Witch is satisfactory.
Now then! I must have a taste...!"
[When the coffin leaves the bubble, the Belly patiently waits for it to move closer to its face. Once it does, it delicately laps out its tongue, wrapping it around the case, and gulps it down just as quickly.
It's a minuscule thing and yet it pauses to move its jaws back and forth, contemplating this new food. The Belly suddenly swims in loops and circles around them and what Henry can hear is delight in his mind while Amelia wrinkles her nose as it croaks joyfully.]
"Wonderful! What a unique flavor! Delicious! Your gift is exceptional!"
[It stops and looks at Amelia, croaking some more and she sighs shaking her head.]
No, I don't think we'll have more where that came from in a while.
[She glances at Henry; she's definitely smiling now.]
But I'll keep you posted. And yes, we'll stay a little longer... You're okay with that, right Henry?
[The creature's true self. Well, he can see why the Load cannot wander about on land looking like this, or else he'd start a panic. A "calamity" is a good word for it.
Just like Henry probably wouldn't do well to walk around in his real body, sauntering about town, though in his case, he doesn't have much of a choice.]
Yes. [He says, nodding, his voice and gestures feeling small in the face of this creature, but knowing he's heard and understood all the same.] We'll stay.
[He holds up where their hands are linked, though. Gently, a bit teasingly in that needling way of his-]
[It strikes the witch that the events leading up to this time with the Blue Moon Belly has been... Odd.
Even in her head that's an understatement.
Is it the passage of time? The longer Henry Creel stays with her, the more she opens up the world to him. The more a person stays within her periphery, the harder it is to be indifferent by design.
But tonight has been so pleasant and warm with the company they have and the jubilation radiating from the creature of the lake. Amelia looks away from the psychic to watch the Blue Moon Belly swim around them in loops.
It's fine. She needed to enjoy herself, wanted it even.
Times like these may only happen once in a blue moon after all. ]
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sunfloras2023-04-20 07:42 pm
no subject
These are all mundane things, the roteness that Henry had disliked so much when he was twelve, and all those years after. It had always felt like a facade, like happiness was a mask, or that everyone was marching to the beat of a ticking clock, playing their parts until life was wrung from them. Wasted, withered away. Pretending to smile the whole time.
And this outing isn't enough to change his mind—no, these are long-ingrained thoughts of his, steel walls he’s built up around himself, hard to crack without knowing where to needle in—but even Henry Creel has to admit: it isn’t as bad as it could be.
Especially once this mundanity gives way to something far more enticing, something that draws his attention to the swath of stars in the sky, the atmosphere changing, the reflection of a swollen, blue moon. The reflection of it catches in the own blue of his eyes as he look at Amelia, hitching his brow up and grinning that little grin of his. This bit should be interesting.]
Of course. Lead the way.
no subject
[River gives the rest of them a thumbs up from the truck. He'll be making the boxes slide down and also just keep an eye out in general on the surface. Meanwhile, Amelia has the siblings hold hands as she uses one hand to encase them in a box of runes. The box wobbles and stretches, transforming into a more spherical bubble. The instructions are concise.]
Walk into the water and then touch the bottom to sink down in the reflection. When you're done with your visit, touch the top and keep it there to sail back to shore. Got it?
[They nod and Simon leads Emily to the water. Their rune bubble keeps their feet dry and the brother leads their descent when they walk on top of the blue moon reflection. Slowly they sink down and disappear.
It's Amelia and Henry's turn now. She stands next to him and performs the same spell to encase them in a magic bubble. The witch mutters some stray thoughts as she finishes it up.]
And no ear popping so underwater pressure shouldn't be a bother ... There we go.
[They're fully enclosed now. Amelia looks at Henry and holds out one hand.]
Might be a good idea to hold on. [She hesitates and then adds.]
Unless you don't want to?
no subject
But maybe Henry is fated to always see things through that lens, despite the beauty around him. If nothing else, he's probably just as curious as the kids.]
Hm?
[He's distracted briefly by the shimmer of their magic bubble when Amelia's question dislodges his observations. He tilts his head in her direction, eyes moving from her hand and right back up to her face.]
In case I get swept away? [He reaches out, clasping her hand with his long fingers.] Why wouldn't I want to?
no subject
When Henry asks why he would opt out she answers honestly.]
I don't know.
[Her hand around his is oddly gentle.]
We're going in.
[And so she leads the both of them into the water. They glide on the surface at first and stop when in the middle of the blue moon's reflection. Since both of her hands are occupied, she uses one foot to press on the bottom of their bubble. The runes glow and they begin to sink beneath the water. It surrounds them but they remain dry and the air fresh as if they were on the surface.]
no subject
...Interesting, though.
His grip is gentle, too, all too aware of their hands if only because this is an anomaly for him. And the fact that, despite his teasing, he would certainly like to remain connected in case something wild and unexpected happens. But surely not!
When they sink beneath the water, Henry is really not sure what to think. It's like being engulfed by the lake, except completely dry, able to breathe; almost as though the water were nothing more than an illusion in which they were mere observers. He cranes his neck up to see the bright light of the moon trying to pierce through the lake's surface.]
This is...
[He doesn't have the words. For a man gone flying through dimensions, stuck in an alien world for years, this counts for something. This is certainly more beautiful than that, fractal lights scattering across Amelia's veil of magic.]
no subject
[They sink deeper and deeper and at first it looks like unfathomable darkness with no bottom as they move further away.]
The Belly lives in the reflection for a reason.
[Lakes are definitely deep but it shouldn't be this vast. The green runes keep things lit for them and at first, there's nothing but fish and plant life swaying gently around them. And then stars— no, bubbles, fly around them and they are aglow with blue and white light, and as they stand in their protective bubble it's like they're floating through space instead of underwater. There are fish that swim past their faces. They have the shape of your usual bass, bluegills, and trouts but it's their neon-colored scales, and their size (many of then human-sized) and patterning and giant unusual eyes that give away their otherworldliness. There appears to be no true bottom within this reflected world.
But where is the Blue Moon Belly?
Soon they can see the siblings in their own bubble, waving to Amelia and Henry. And in the distance, there is the outline of a gargantuan shape moving back and forth sweeping up the vague shadows of boxes that are sinking into the water.
Without letting go of Henry's hand, she holds out the coffin box for him to take.]
Here. You're going to offer this to him. Oh and... Since it seems like you're able to communicate, could you call him over?
no subject
And... well. Speaking of predators. Down below, a huge shape wends around the boxes plummeting downwards. Their friend, he supposes.
Henry takes the coffin-box, still looking downwards, his demeanor a bit childlike itself now, focused wholly on this new experience. He cinches his brows together.]
All right.
[Telepathically, a message sent outwards:]
no subject
[It swims towards them, closer, closer, and closer...
On the surface, the lake creature changes its shape to sneak around humans and as a result, it appears rather out of place, goofy even, what with how it awkwardly walks on its hind legs, its surface skin slimy, and its color a duller blue-grey.
Here within the reflection of the moon?
The Blue Moon Belly is basically a Leviathan.
It's like staring at a cruise-ship-sized monster that blinks back at them with dark expectant eyes. The Belly is a shade of a smooth pastel blue and the sheer size of it has Emily in the other bubble laughing with delight and Simon smiling.
The Belly addresses them all with a low hum that sends a vibration across their bubbles. And then it speaks to Henry.]
[The Belly hums again and Amelia nods at Henry.]
Just push it through the bubble.
no subject
Henry doesn't bother to hide his surprise, blue eyes widening. He doesn't even look at Amelia... He just pushes the coffin through the edge of the magic bubble.]
[And in a better mood, too.]
no subject
[When the coffin leaves the bubble, the Belly patiently waits for it to move closer to its face. Once it does, it delicately laps out its tongue, wrapping it around the case, and gulps it down just as quickly.
It's a minuscule thing and yet it pauses to move its jaws back and forth, contemplating this new food. The Belly suddenly swims in loops and circles around them and what Henry can hear is delight in his mind while Amelia wrinkles her nose as it croaks joyfully.]
[It stops and looks at Amelia, croaking some more and she sighs shaking her head.]
No, I don't think we'll have more where that came from in a while.
[She glances at Henry; she's definitely smiling now.]
But I'll keep you posted. And yes, we'll stay a little longer... You're okay with that, right Henry?
no subject
Just like Henry probably wouldn't do well to walk around in his real body, sauntering about town, though in his case, he doesn't have much of a choice.]
Yes. [He says, nodding, his voice and gestures feeling small in the face of this creature, but knowing he's heard and understood all the same.] We'll stay.
[He holds up where their hands are linked, though. Gently, a bit teasingly in that needling way of his-]
Are we going to hold hands this entire time?
1/2
no subject
[Amelia will just let go of Henry's hand trying to not look self-conscious about... All this. ]
I'll keep the bubble steady while we tour the rest of the lake.
no subject
Henry's hand remains held up, now holding onto nothing.]
Amelia. I'm joking. You're easy to tease, aren't you?
no subject
There is an awkward pause on her end as she glances at him with uncertainty and some mild indignity.]
I've been... Told as much, yes.
no subject
You're leaving him hanging, girl. But eventually Henry eases his hand back down.]
All in good fun only.
no subject
Even in her head that's an understatement.
Is it the passage of time? The longer Henry Creel stays with her, the more she opens up the world to him. The more a person stays within her periphery, the harder it is to be indifferent by design.
But tonight has been so pleasant and warm with the company they have and the jubilation radiating from the creature of the lake. Amelia looks away from the psychic to watch the Blue Moon Belly swim around them in loops.
It's fine. She needed to enjoy herself, wanted it even.
Times like these may only happen once in a blue moon after all. ]