networkinthenight | ( audio

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( audio | un: warlock )

Indulge my curiosity for a moment, would you?

( could you deny a face like his? could you? you couldn't. which is good because he's going to ask a somewhat morbid question. )

We're all, apparently, dead. But some of us have died again and been returned via the church. Some of us have disappeared or died and not been returned. Are they still here somewhere? Or have they been sent back to where they came from?

Those are hypothetical questions, by the way. Feel free to try and answer but I think it's going to be a lot of time that could be spent on something more fruitful.

My actual question: could the the way of dying a second time crucial to who stays and who goes? Or did those of us that have been lost end somewhere in this place that we've yet to find?

( he knows that it's not necessarily a fun thing to think about but he recalls the resurrection of his aunt hilda after her many deaths at the hands of his other aunt versus how harvey's brother had come back. two dead people returned to the land of the living but only one went on to live a relatively normal life.

ambrose knows that might be because hilda is a witch herself and tommy was a normal human. but his curiosity still stands. )

Do we need to institute the buddy system to make sure no one else wanders off and doesn't come back?

( he's joking. mostly. )

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Real magic.

( he gives his fingers a wiggle and smirks. )

Real magic like you wouldn't believe.

( well. )

Or maybe you would all things considered.

Uhm I know magic? But you're welcome to show me? The books at school mentioned different kinds and not just, uhm, just the ones the taught us. Or, maybe it was more magic? Like, something with more power behind it. But. Here? It's hard to cast, like. Like there's only so much of it and-- and it's slow?

I've noticed that too. I can still use magic but it takes more of my focus and concentration to make it work. What usually takes no effort actually takes effort now.

( how dare. )

But, as long as it's not completely gone, I can deal. I just have to adjust.

That's what I meant, or--uhm, something like it? I mean, the poppers are what they are, but it's as if there's not enough ambient magic for it to completely.

It does make it harder, though. And, I mean, battle magic was hard enough already, but now-- [Snapping his mouth shut, Quentin just stops there. There's really no reason to tell a stranger about battle magic. Or any of that.]

You don't have to stop talking about magic around me, you know. I am well aware of what battle magic, you know.

( he was over ninety year olds. he'd been in a few fights before, magical and otherwise. )

Believe me, if there's one person that it's safe to talk about battle magic with, it's me.

Really, because you say so? I don't know you or anything, so-- uhm, maybe later?

[Nuh uh, this is how the beast got in with Penny, and granted he's been in Penny's head since he was a kid and this was somewhere completely different. But. Point stands, though. This person on the tablet could be anyone at all.]

Maybe after I settle in a little better. But you ask good questions and I hope we as a community figure something out. Like, before we're all killed again or go missing in the woods.

Whatever you want. I'm not going to force you.

( and he wasn't going to talk himself up either. so, it was quentin's choice. )

I hope so too. But, until then, there's drinking. Hope you're able to relax a little bit, man.

Uhm, sure. Drinking. Is fun?

[Sometimes, when it doesn't end in being blind drunk or waking up in strange places. Or kidnapped. By Margo.]

Maybe I will, uhm, when I get used to things here. It's just-- a lot. Really.

It is.

( if there was one thing they could agree on, it was that. this place was a lot. )

Take it one day at a time and don't try and do everything at once. You're going to be here tomorrow too.

[Small throat-noise that might be agreement, or it might just be Quentin snorting at the tablet and not really saying yes or no to that. Because drinking. Has it own set of problems.]

We're going to be here forever, aren't we? That's just, like, not what I was hoping for. Didn't you imagine being dead as something... else?

I can't answer that question. There were some people here and then they weren't. I don't know if they went back to where they came from or went elsewhere.

( but he's curious, he'll admit. )

And yes, of course I did. But, I can't do anything about that right now. I'm trying not to dwell, you know? Nothing good comes of that.

( and he already had a lot of other things to dwell on. )

You’ve been here for months, and no one knows anything. It’s just— it’s frustrating and a little much? You know?

[Not to mention disheartening and not boding well for Quentin’s chance of figuring anything out soon, and just being here for a day and half and the darkness is already getting to him. The way it makes the days and nights bleed together in to one long, endless night.]

And you can just do that? Not dwell? Is this where the drinking comes in?

No one knows anything because we've been a little busy. We're not just sitting here, doing nothing. People have died, things have happened, and people keep arriving. There isn't always time to just sit down with each other and talk about what's going on.

( there were quiet nights, sure, but most people spent those nights unwinding and trying not to think of what was happening. )

I can do that just fine. ( he'd been doing it for decades now. ) But drinking helps.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean-- I mean, I didn't think you were all just sitting around and, uhm, so. I maybe thought after what you said that no one trusts each other and that's why nothing gets done?

[That would not be the first time that cooperation was key and also the hardest thing in the world to achieve. He knew his friends, and still, they'd had to use magic to find harmony and the Key to go with it. These were all complete strangers.]

Yeah, any tips? Because I can't stop thinking about-- about well, all of it?

When's the last time you slept? And before you go 'we're dead, we don't need it?', you can still close your eyes and rest.

( because you need some rest, quentin. )

You need a few hours where you don't do anything but rest.

Uhm, I don't know? I've sort of just been sleeping whenever? Or, when there's nothing to do?

[Which was never, but at least they found somewhere to sleep at night, and it wasn't a total shithole, so-- there's that.]

I do that. I mean, when I need it? But, that's the tip? Sleep? [So very doubtful about that, but sure. Resting could be nice. Once he's done making notes and cross-checking what everyone has been telling him about this place, and there was still the library to check out.]

It's a tip. It would at least give you some time to not overthink things. It would allow you a break.

( and everyone needs a break. )

And maybe give you some clarity on things when you woke up. Sometimes, sleep is all you need.

[The laugh just explodes out of him, like, he's not laughing at you, guy, but not overthink things? When overthinking is like motto to him and it just seems too funny.]

Shit, I'm sorry. Just-- just that's exactly what I tend to do, uhm, overthink things? But sure, I'll give napping a shot. I mean, I'm already dead, what harm could it do?

Keep your lantern safe and you'll be fine.

( so basically, don't accidentally go falling and you won't die again. napping would be much better than napping because you were dead. )

You can overthink later.

You should just like someone I know. But yeah, I'll try. Thanks? And, uhm, good luck with-- with getting answers to your questions. I wish I could have been more helpful.

You helped. Don't worry, I don't think these questions are really all that answerable. Take care of yourself, man.

( talking some things out helped. )

Talk to you later.

You too.

[SuprNerd out]

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( audio | un: warlock )

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