westfallcorndog | Cinema Theory (Tagging Amelia)

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amelia

Cinema Theory (Tagging Amelia)

After February's movie night, a 'definitive Earth romance' of dubious quality, Amelia had left in a hurry. And her leaving wasn't close to the start of it. She'd been strange throughout the entire experience, and when she finally did escape she was out with a shout and off like a flash. Harrow had hardly had the time to say goodbye before she was out of earshot. And, come to think of it, though he didn't know her well he was sure he hadn't seen her in a very long time. Partly curious and partly worried, he decides to text her.

[Amelia are you okay? You left fast. Do you want help getting home?]

Hopefully she responds quickly, or he's going to have to go hunting for her. There's always something a little too exciting about chasing down breathers, and he greatly prefers they come to him or meet by happy coincidence, but he's not above doing it this time. After all, she might be in need of some serious assistance.

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"No, you don't get it." She sighs in a frustrated manner. "I don't think he's leading me on and I certainly don't want to lead him on, either." Beat. "It wasn't a date. We never called it that. And I don't want it to be a date either. But if someone were to take my feelings into account when thinking about it, they could call it a date. And that's bad. Isidor would kill me for that."

She starts pacing again and when she speaks, her voice is low and somber.

"I don't want him to get hurt by this. If anyone gets hurt, I want it to be me. This is all my fault and I don't want him to have to deal with the consequences of my actions." There's that martyr complex of hers again. Only this time, she's thought through what all of this means. A thoughtful frown plays at her lips as she stops pacing. "He deserves a chance at happiness with whomever his family chooses for him. It won't be me. It... it can't be me, given my lack of magic. So I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he has it. And if anything goes wrong, I'll be making damn sure that I'm the one who takes the fall in the end."

Harrow lowers his eyebrows and crosses his arms while he listens to more frustrations from Amelia and tries not to take it personally when once again she's saying he doesn't get it.

"It happened in the past, right? This was before you spoke to Isidor? So I don't think anything bad's gonna happen. I don't think she's one to dwell on the past so long as you do what she likes in the future. She forgave me for my mistakes and acted real gracious when we went to her family's mansion after that whole business with Doctor Hill. She might be serious, and she might have a hard role to play, but she ain't a total hard-ass, and she ain't evil."

He runs his hands through his hair even as he keeps his arms crossed before his chest.

"So your world's cut off... Your romance is cut off... Damn, Amelia. I think what you need is a job. Not even a hard job, just... Somethin' to keep your hands and mind busy. Somethin' other than bein' Viatorus's new dedicated emotional bodyguard. You gotta focus on your own life for a while, girl. Otherwise you'll turn into the pinin' knight in love with the prince she can't have, and I'll tell you what, that's gonna hurt more than anything."

He rubs his chin as if feeling for stubble, but of course his face will never be any rougher than it is.

"Give it a week or two, then ask him out for a friendly afternoon. Go to a library, go visit a park. Maybe bring a friend along so it don't feel too romantic. Learn how to feel like a friend again around him. This romantic hill's a hard one to climb, I know, but some day – soon, I hope – you'll reach the top and suddenly you'll realize that you really are happy with the way things are."

Edited 2016-03-02 14:54 (UTC)

The idea of focusing on herself is terrifying. Taking the time to think about these things, to give them time to fully sink in? Nope. Not wanted one bit. A job, however, seems like a fantastic way to focus on others rather than herself. "Not sure where to start looking for a new job, but I suppose that's half the battle in this new place, isn't it?"

Harrow's suggestion of a 'friendly' afternoon gets a raised eyebrow. Seems he had a similar thought to once she'd had earlier during her meeting with Isidor. "I was going to talk to him about doing something for his birthday in a few weeks, actually. Nothing too exciting, but I thought that, if he's okay with it, maybe we could get a few people together to celebrate over dinner after that? Isidor says he's never celebrated his birthday with friends before, and I think it might be a good distraction from all of the terrible things that have happened recently."

"A birthday!" Harrow hauls himself up from the snow once again, smiling for the first time since the terrible topic of romance grew up like a spring weed. "I love birthdays! I always used to help my mom set 'em up for my brothers and sisters. Would you let me help you plan? 'Cause I could really use a chance to make some stuff up to him, and I think I know some good places to hold it!"

He elbows Amelia in the side and with an eager smile says, "I think I know some jobs you could take too!"

"I... honestly have no idea what people do for friends on their birthdays, so help planning something would be lovely." She smiles lightly. "I don't want anything too big or fancy, though. Isidor says that's the sort of thing he's used to with family and that it might be overwhelming. Something small seems good. No more than a dozen people at most?" A tall order, given she has no idea how many people know and like Viatorus, but she really doesn't want him to get overwhelmed by this. "And that's only if he agrees to the idea, of course. I'm sure I can talk him into it, though." Because talking people into things is one of the few things she's good at.

The ribbing comes as a shock as she wasn't paying enough attention to Harrow while working through her thoughts on Viatorus' birthday party. She puts a hand on his elbow and firmly pushes it away. Come on, Harrow, you know better. "If you have any leads, I'd be willing to look into them."

He'd completely forgotten that she is a person with a personal bubble, so her push comes as a little surprise. He smiles apologetically and nods at being reminded and doesn't push the issue. Besides, there are better issues to push.

"Man, you don't just tell someone that we're havin' a birthday party for 'em! You gotta surprise 'em! That way if it's bad, they don't get their hopes up, and if it's good it's really, really good. He'll be so excited when all his friends are there and he didn't expect us! Unless you think it'll be too much and he'll cry? But I think the surprise'll be good for him. Not a jump-scare kinda surprise, y'know, just... The gift of his pals. Right?"

Then, without giving Amelia time to reply, he dives right into the next subject. "You oughta go check with Naugus! Wizards always need helpers around their towers, and I hear he's got a whole lotta work goin' on. Maybe even some cool adventure stuff?"

"Surprise someone with a party...?" That's... different. "I'm not sure I would want to do that to him. It might..." She pauses, her lips drawing into a thin line. "I don't want to scare him. I think it would be best he knows what's coming. No sense in overwhelming him when it's supposed to be a joyful celebration." That's a very polite way of saying 'are you crazy?' She gives a small, reassuring smile, though. "I'm sure I can convince him to come, though."

The mention of Naugus makes her go pale, but brings a raging fire to her eyes. "If that gremlin offers me anything ever again, I will tear him limb from limb. His magic be damned - I will not stand to be close to him." Her hands clench into tight fists at her sides. Fuck, Naugus. Seriously.

"Grem–?!" Wow! Harrowheart had no idea Amelia had such ire for the man! He's taken aback by her sudden threats and stares at her in surprise before a slow frown forms on his face.

"Amelia," he says, "This is a new lesson for me in life, but I'm learnin' that if you don't go around tellin' folks you're gonna dismember 'em, things tend to go a lot smoother. Especially since Viatorus and Naugus are friends, from what I been told. Would you talk that way about his friends around him? Would you tell him you're gonna cut folks' limbs off? 'Cause I saw the way he acted when I said I was gonna gut someone in front of him, and somehow I don't think he'd appreciate that kinda talk."

"So I don't mention it to him and avoid Naugus at the party. Problem solved." She shrugs half-heartedly. It seems an easy solution. "Naugus and I have never had a civil relationship. If anyone expects us to act that way, they've never heard us speak of one another."

She won't make a scene. Not at Viatorus' party. If need be, she'll leave and apologize to the scholar later. It's the closest thing to a good solution as she can come up with that doesn't include not inviting Naugus.

Harrow shrugs casually and tilts his head just slightly. "Or maybe you could try and work it out with him? I know he ain't always the easiest guy to see eye to eye with – I mean, apparently. He and I always got along, but Jim said that whole bodyswappin' thing with him was a real chore. But, listen. I'm gonna give you some advice I gave Viatorus:

"You can almost always make things better with a person if you apologize for the things you did without apologizin' for the things they did. It makes you the bigger person. The burden of bein' the one to apologize next would fall on him, and he'd already be surprised that you were tryin' to patch things up. Now, I don't think he'd ever actually say he's sorry or wrong for whatever reason y'all don't like each other, but... Shoot, I don't know. You might find things go your way if you try and meet the guy half way, whether you think it's right or not."

He tries to smile for her, but he's already predicting the kind of response she's going to have to all of this.

If Harrow thinks she's going to throw more insults, he's... almost right. She crosses her arms in front of her chest and turns her face away from him.

"I refuse to apologize to the creature who tried to kill me and nearly cost me my chance at settling my affairs in my world out of spite."

Oh. So that's why she hates him. Well, he can't exactly argue his way out of that one.

"Outta spite? Not even for a reason?" As much as he'd love to really pry, he's pretty sure she'd stab him for that, and he really doesn't want to have to clean the blood off this shirt of his.

"But... Did you get to set your affairs in order, after all?"

"Yes, spite. To prove I and my world are inferior to him, which is in part where the spite comes from."

She sighs softly. "I was able to get back, but now I have no guarantee that the portal is closed completely. Schön was supposed to take care of that for me, but, well..." Her hands gesture vaguely to the world around them. "This is all different from what I left behind and there are a few people missing."

Harrow laughs awkwardly. "We are kinda beneath him," he admits. "He created a whole other dimension all on his own. His magic gave birth to a race of people that lived there, and he ruled the whole place like a god. He told me that, and I believe it. He's a whole lot more powerful than he lets on, Amelia. Maybe it would be smart to buddy up with him?"

He goes to put a hand on her shoulder but at the very last second remembers her opinion about personal contact. It floats back to his side quickly.

"How about this. Since you two're on bad terms, I'll put in some good words for you? I could talk you up a little, and maybe he'd change his tune? Maybe he'd even help you out? Check to be sure your world's still closed off, weave a little magic for you any time you – "

He stops abruptly and forces a guilty smile. "Shoot, I'm sorry, I forgot you ain't a fan of magic. But, still, I'm sure he could be a good ally for other reasons, if you let him be?"

"I want nothing to do with him." That's as nice as she can be about anything dealing with Naugus right now.

The mention of magic gets a hesitant nod. "I'm not, but I... I want to learn about it. I want to understand it so I don't fear it so much." No ulterior motives whatsoever. Really!

Harrow's eyebrows lower, though not in judgment. He's thinking, squinting at Amelia, rubbing his chin.

"For real?"

And back to the deep, thoughtful stare. This is not the Amelia he first met, but then again, he himself has changed quite a lot since coming to the Nexus.

"Y'know..." he says. "I tried to teach someone magic once. Never found out what she went and did with the knowledge. Not sure how safe I feel thinkin' someone's out there knowin' some of my tricks, but... If you ever wanna see magic? Maybe learn to fight against it? Shoot, I'd teach you a couple'a things. Help you feel less intimidated, less helpless. That sound like somethin' you might be interested in?"

"I want to learn more about it through books first, before I consider learning more through practical application." That's a surprisingly calm answer coming from the rogue who's nearly lost her shit over people even suggesting magic could be useful to her in the past. She seems confident about the answer, though the fear is obviously still there. "But eventually, someday, I think... that would be a good idea. Learning to fight against it seems important in a place like this. And perhaps if I get comfortable enough I could even try to learn to use it...?"

Wait. What?

That's not suspicious at all.

From Harrowheart's perspective? That really isn't suspicious! He even smiles to hear it!

"Aw, Amelia, that's great news! It's so much better to open up your mind to stuff like that, especially since magic's everywhere and it's so helpful! Shoot, girl... First you got a phone, now you're gonna cast some spells... You're really learnin' about the universe!"

He clasps his hands together like he's a proud mother and just spends a few seconds smiling at Amelia. She's changing, that's for sure, and it's so great to see. If only he knew her motivations, then perhaps he'd have different things to say.

"Do you maybe have a field of magic in mind? I do ice and shadow! If you ever wanna know about those I'd be happy to help. Not that I'm a mage, mind. Not like a book-learnin' wizard sort. But you'll learn all about the different kinds of casters and magical creatures out there pretty soon, I'm sure. Mages and shamans and priests and monks and death knights and more!"

The guy's all chitter-chatter now. You've opened up a font of magical BABBLE, Amelia.

Harrow can babble all he wants. While he does, Amelia can make sure to school her expression and keep from letting on more than she's ready to share.

"I don't know if I'll get there," she admits, "but if I learn anything, I want to learn how to protect people with it. Anything that could block incoming attacks - magical or physical - would be helpful. Or things to disable opponents so they no longer have the ability to fight. That's the kind of thing I'd want to learn." Her ~~tanks~~ friends back home would be happy to know she's gained at least a little sense about running head first into a fight.

"The best offense is a good defense, right?" He laughs at his lame-ass attempt at a joke.

"I'll give you a tip, though. Magical defenses ain't really too different from physical ones. There's a way around all of 'em, and sometimes that don't even mean you gotta cast."

He looks Amelia up and down while his hands rub against his upper arms as if he were feeling the chill of the Wintery outdoors.

"You still got any energy left in ya after all that target practice? 'Cause if you want, maybe you could do a little sparrin' against magic right now? See how you feel about it?"

The offer of a spar is unexpected. On the one hand, she wants to say no. Going up against someone practiced in magic before she's' done any reading is dangerous. At the same time, Harrow seems unlikely to hurt her. On purpose, anyway. Maybe it's worth a try, then...

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

Harrow's hands rub together and he steps a few yards away from Amelia.

"Nothin' too terrible," he says. "I don't wanna scare you off or make you hate me. But... What if I conjured chains of ice around your feet?"

He poses it as if he expects her to answer, and he even gives her a few seconds to think. But then his hands work all their own, twisting and pulling at the air as if sorting through unseen papers. Just as he'd warned her, chains of pure ice weave out of the snow on the ground like snakes and twist around to trap her by the ankles. They replicate link by link at an alarming rate despite being as intricate and thick as any iron chains a metalworker could create.

There is a chance that she could dodge it, but a roll or dive would only put her closer to the snow from which these chains rise up. If they do manage to grab her they'll hold tightly, but not tightly enough to cut off circulation and certainly not enough to twist joints or break bones.

Harrow, meanwhile, watches with an honestly pleasant smile. He really is interested in seeing how she would deal with something like this.

Edited (i can't believe I spelled 'too' wrong) 2016-03-05 23:28 (UTC)

"Chains of ice...?" Her mind is still working out the details when the links start to form around ankles. She jumps back, unsure of how the magic works, but it's of no avail. The links follow her ankles and are soon standing fast around them. "Hey, w-wait a second, I thought we were going to talk about this first...?"

The fear sets in as she tries to take a step backwards and falls on her ass into the snow. No. No, no, no this is not at all what she thought he meant. Why didn't she ask more questions? Why didn't he wait before jumping in?

Harrow can see the metaphorical wheels in her head turning now. Fuck. No. Stop. Calm down. Think before you act. Think!

Despite the panic, or perhaps because of it, Amelia grabs a specific dagger from her belt and slips the blade into the center of one of the links. Using her own ankle as a fulcrum, she strains with all of her strength to break the link open. It's ice - it should come apart from the pressure of one of her better made daggers, right? ...right?

...she's going to sprain something if it doesn't give way quickly.

The links are broken easily by steel. Strong though they may be, metal is still stronger. The first link assaulted shatters with a twist of the blade, but before Amelia has the opportunity to crack any more they start to pop and crack, and in a sudden, small cloud of sparkling ice they've all disenchanted themselves. The snow that once made chains around her ankles settles delicately as any snow dust would.

In quick, long strides Harrow's there by Amelia's side offering her a handless wrist to help her stand. His face is all guilt and worry and he's speaking a hundred miles an hour.

"I'm sorry! I thought you wanted a heads up and a surprise and – Sh-shoot, Amelia, I'm sorry!"

The help up is noted, but she is staying firmly planted in the snow while she shakes off the adrenaline.

"Apparently your world has a different idea of sparring than what I'm used to. What you just did would be considered an ambush in mine." Deep breaths, slow and steady. That'll help her regain her composure faster than succumbing to her anger. She carefully sheathes her dagger before hanging her head in exhaustion. Today has been a very long day.

"Perhaps we need to work out what we're both expecting before we try again sometime."

Cinema Theory (Tagging Amelia)

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