WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[You now know why you're here, Titled. The question now is, is there a way to get out of here without invoking the rules? What will those who brought you here do to get you to kill?

Time will tell.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[theirmagic]

[ Choices, choices... she ends up staring down a box with a dragon on it, versus a box with a cute panda, but in the end, the cute panda wins out. It reminds her a bit of her own bear friend, so she gets that brand. ]

I do honestly wish there were at least a little greenery. Perhaps Luna Nova spoiled me for it.

[scienceofmagic]

...Arcas, right? You ever miss him?

[ She'll go pay for it, at least. ]

[theirmagic]

... Sometimes. I did get to see him again when Akko opened the Gate of Polaris, though. It was nice.

[ She smiles, fondly. ]

I miss Alcor, too... it's so odd to not wake up to his crows...

[scienceofmagic]

...It's strange, being without all of that. Even my own familiar is back at the academy...

[ All right, paid for, let's go get food. ]

[theirmagic]

... Croix... why do you think they brought us here? That Life Coach... I told her I would openly oppose anyone who tried to harm anyone else. That I would do my best to stop it. But she does seem to be expecting blood to be spilled... I simply... can't allow it. There are children here.

[ To say nothing of how important each life is, adult or child... ]

[scienceofmagic]

...I don't know. But maybe we can find out if we're careful. ...I won't let anything happen to you, though, Chariot.

[ Not after everything else she did to you. ]

[theirmagic]

C... Chariot, huh.

[ Her hands thread together, the teabox in her pocket and she just... the name hangs in her throat. ]

Croix... I don't need protecting.

[ Does she deserve to be looked after? Hah. ]

I can look after myself. But all the same... if it means anything to you... I want to keep you safe, too. You mean a lot to me. You always have.

[scienceofmagic]

...I'll be fine, Chariot. But you... You'd destroy yourself if it was for another person. I won't let you do that.

[ I owe you. ]

[theirmagic]

... I...

[ Whoops she can't argue with it. ]

W-well, it's true I don't want anyone to come to harm, but... that might be unnecessary if we all go home. ... Croix... I just... want you to be safe. That's all. Everyone else here? They have some kind of advantage over you. So being with me... means I could help keep you safe.

[scienceofmagic]

...It wouldn't be worth it to me if you got hurt protecting me. I've already hurt you so much.

[ She's stopped walking. This... This isn't... ]

[theirmagic]

... I...

[ Ursula's fingers twist into knots, practically. You can see the anxiety on her face, and she almost bumps right into Croix, but stops just short. ]

I'm the one who stole what you wanted... and... I'm the one who took Akko's magic from her. If anything, I have a debt to repay to you... and to her. And to so many other people.

[scienceofmagic]

We don't always get what we want, Chariot.

[ It's as much being said to herself as it is to her. ]

...This probably would have been better for me, anyway, than... It's... It's complicated.

[theirmagic]

... Then I guess it's too bad I learned something important a long time ago, isn't it? "Phaidoari Afairynghor". We don't always get the things we dream of... we get the things we work for.

So let me work by your side, Croix. ... Please. Help me keep the people here safe. And... I don't want to give you the wrong idea.

[ She'll remove her glasses and pocket them. They're just getting in the way anyway. ]

... I love my job at Luna Nova, Croix. I love my students, and I love teaching there. It may not be glamorous, but I love the work I do. It may not be big and groundbreaking and important, but I'm helping the kind of people who will eventually go do those things in the future, if they want to. I'm helping Akko. ... I still have a role to play. I'd almost... forgotten, for a moment, but...

[ ... Woodward reminded her, didn't she? Remember together the Seven Lost Words. You, too, have a role to play. Something to that affect. Her smile is genuine, and she'll hold out her right hand. ]

... But there's no reason we have to give up hope. I think what you wanted is very, very possible. And I'm going to try very hard to make sure it happens.

[scienceofmagic]

[ Of course she uses the words against her. Of course she does. Croix turns, slowly, looking down at Ursula's hand. Right. Her left arm is injured. ]

...Chariot...

[ ...How can she forgive her just like that? How? Slowly, she reaches out. ...But it's not taking her hand that she does. ]

[theirmagic]

[ It sure is. There's no scar, because of course there isn't. Magic doesn't leave scars, at least, the Shiny Rod didn't. Everything it did was internal. Too much magical energy out of one place for one person to handle; her arm's a lot weaker now. It works, but it's weaker. You'd probably noticed... she's switched handedness, mysteriously. ]

... Even though a part of me really... regrets the past, I don't think we'll ever be able to move forward if we just... live there. We're... here now. It's been ten years. We've both done a lot of changing in that time, you know?

I'm... not the bold person you used to know. I get... afraid of large groups of people, and I'm easy to shout down, and I'm often anxious, bu-but... please, give me a chance now.

[scienceofmagic]

...I did this to you. I ruined you. I thought, back then, that you were someone no one could tear down or destroy. But I was wrong. I was so busy being caught up in me and my fears and anxieties... I never noticed...

[ What was really important to me. ]

...The night of your last show, I wasn't... Even thinking about me when I erased everyone's memories. All I knew was how much trouble you'd be in. So I wanted to keep you safe. That's... All I could think.

[ How could she have been so stupid? ]

[theirmagic]

... I figured you did that. But I was so... panicked and afraid, all I could do was... run. Run away...

[ She sighs. ]

I mean, you saw what I did to the moon. People were going to notice who weren't there at that show. I had to run. But it... I don't blame you. And I don't hate you, Croix. I... I care for you a lot, you know. Like I said before... you're part of the reason that show existed to begin with. I wanted... to help people the same way I helped you. That was all. Your words...? They meant more to me than anything else I had ever heard.

[scienceofmagic]

...Let's... Go get food.

[ ...She has a lot to explain. A lot. ]

[theirmagic]

... All right.

[ But she's still worried about you so she's going to fuss. ]

Just promise me you won't kill me with spice?

[scienceofmagic]

Come on, I'm not that bad!

[ She will... Take Chariot's hand, though. ]

[theirmagic]

[ She's so happy to be holding Croix's hand again after all this time. She miiight be a bit red. ]

Oh, nonsense. I think we both know you would eat raw peppers if given the chance.

[scienceofmagic]

I mean I'm not that bad that I'd make anyone else eat the things I can.

[ She'll laugh a bit. This... Feels nice. Okay, so a small time skip, and they get a rather normal breakfast. And then sit down in the café together. ]

...Did I ever tell you how I learned about the the Claiomh Solais?

[theirmagic]

No, I don't recall if you did, at least. It has been a long time.

[ Can't they just call it the Shiny Rod... ]

You always were a stickler for its proper name. Not that I don't understand...

[scienceofmagic]

...I'm from an old witching family. Not as important as the Cavendishes, but still pretty up there. I was pretty much raised to go to Luna Nova, discover the Claiomh Solais and the Seven Lost Words and restore magic to the world.

[ She'll take a drink of her coffee, looking down at the eggs on her plate then. ]

...So when it didn't come to me, it was devastating. I felt like I'd failed.

[theirmagic]

... I honestly had guessed as much some time ago. The way you carried yourself... it was the burden of importance placed upon you not by yourself, but perhaps by others. There's... always a difference. Seeing Miss Cavendish... only made me feel even moreso that perhaps I'd been right. You two are quite similar, you know...

[ A thoughtful tapping of a fork against her plate. ]

You didn't fail, though. The Shiny Rod... for whatever reason, it felt it should be with me. Even now, I can't say I'm entirely sure why. It had to... know my potential for failure. You're not someone who would have choked like I did. Maybe... it saw something we didn't. I can't claim to understand it, but...

... I do know that these things happen for a reason. When it came to me, I was so surprised! I only wanted to hand it over to you.