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[Network - voice] @ SuprNerd- we could be heroes, just for one day

[The audio starts with the sounds of rustling papers, as if Quentin is reading this from something he's written down (he is) and his voice starts out stilted.]

Hello? This is for all of you who live here in Beacon and it's about something I've thought about since the town meeting. At this meeting, there was one thing we didn't-- okay, so there were actually two things, but I want to talk about the one thing and-- shit. Sorry. There was one thing we didn't talk about, and that's the fact that several of us can do things. I've talked to some of you and-- fuck. Hi. I'm, uhm, Quentin and I'm a magician? We're from, well, Eliot and I are from the same world? Or, the same timeline? I don't know what to call it, but we came from the same place? But, yes. I'm Quentin. Hello.

And I've talked to some of you and you could do amazing things. Brilliant, magical things and that made me think that, what if there's more? What if a lot of us can do amazing things, but we just don't know because we haven't told each other yet? So I'm proposing that we talk to each other and if you're not comfortable with everyone knowing what you can do-- and I get that, I do, because back home we weren't really supposed to talk about magic either, at least not to non-magical people. But okay-- if that makes you uncomfortable, you could always just talk to me? There's a private setting to these texts or we could meet up. Or maybe some of you will want proof of magic and I can show you?

But most importantly, we can do these amazing things and that could maybe help with some of this? Right now, everyone is searching through the forest on foot and in small groups. If we find out what we can do, maybe it's possible to make teams that can search without having to put themselves in harms way? Maybe someone out there can fly? Someone who could fly out and see which way we need to go to get through? Maybe someone is telekinetic? Or, can talk to plants? Maybe one of you can warg in to some of the spirits? Maybe someone is a shapeshifter or a skinwalker-- or, god, you're getting all of this from popular fiction and now everyone has to hear about it... sorry, where was I?

Okay, so maybe if we talk to each other about this, maybe we can find a better way of exploring this place and maybe we can find a better solution to the problem of World Eaters coming for us.

Because the X-men were better when they were a team? And-- and even Frodo couldn't get the ring to Mordor without the Fellowship. So, maybe we can do something like that. Make powered teams and use this, to defend ourselves and to explore this world.

But, uh, it wouldn't be fair to expect any of you to share with me, if I'm not willing to share myself. So, if-- I can do simple wards? For our homes. To ward places like the church, which we know has been destroyed once already or maybe the Inn? I'd need someone to cast with me, but I think we can do it. Ward it from harm or put a shield spell on it, so it's safe. I can mend things, and if anyone wants help mending small objects, I'm willing to help.

I guess that's all I have to say. I hope you'll consider this and that you'll help me keep us all safe.

[indistinct and muttered] and fuck that guy for saying I couldn't. Stupid, fuck-- [click]

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You have actual pixies? That you can, well, I'm just guessing here, but you shake them and dust comes out?

[Oh my god! It's not as cool as an actual a hobbit, but-- a pixie? Still cool.]

Yeah, we have, uh, we don't have pixies. Or, that maybe magical creatures. There were some on another would, though?

Sure, we can meet. How about the park? By the crab? What time would work for you? And also, I'll probably need to know what you look like, otherwise I'm just this creepy guy in a dark park and-- yeah, sorry. Just the park would work for me?

Pretty sure they'd have more than something to say about it if you did that. Better off asking.

[ Some on another world, he says. He takes a breath like something's just occurred to him, avid in interest, but he stops himself. ]

Hold that thought. The park. Half an hour. Unless you're throwing a party, I don't think there's gonna be that many of us hanging around the park.

They can talk?

[Talking pixies are just even better! And they hand out dust that gives you happy thoughts. Some days, Quentin just really needed a pixie apparently.]

I'm not-- no, no party. Just me. Uh, forty minutes and I'm- and I'll be there.

[ Well... depends. Tinkerbell, not so much. The three good fairies? Chatterboxes once they got going. But they can talk magical people later, after they talk about... other... magical stuff.

Sorry, Q. You need happy thoughts to take off with pixie dust. Might be at a bit of a disadvantage.

Riku, on account of those ten extra minutes, shows up first. And, on account of having been chopping up logs into stacks of firewood he's starting to amass along the side of the boathouse, he's dressed in jeans and a white tee - and regretting it. The cooler weather isn't too agreeable when you've grown up in a tropical archipelago.

None of that seems too remarkable.

Except the fact that in spite of his age, he's sporting the silvered hair of someone far older. The moon is waning, a new moon approaching, but even under its scant light his hair is luminous in the dark, his lantern hooked into the belt loop at his hip. ]

[Even with giving himself more time, Quentin is running late. Just trying to find his clothes where he dropped them yesterday took forever since his socks had somehow ended up underneath his bed, even if his hoodie had been under Eliot's and Quentin isn't really all that sure that something or someone isn't moving his clothes around while he sleeps.

Underwear gnomes branching out?

But, clothes on and shoes found (in the kitchen, because why the fuck not?) and he has his notebook in one pocket and his tablet in the other, the lantern in hand and now he's hurrying across the grounds and past the dark trees towards the park.

Pixies? Really? Not that that was going to be his first question, but- dude, pixies. Not as if it should come as surprise, with all the different possible worlds they found the fountains for in the Neitherlands. But he's hurrying, not falling over his own feet as he passes the ice cream crab and looks around, slightly winded and looking like he just fell out of bed.

Darkness. Everywhere.

Except for a guy, with amazingly silver hair like the Winter's Doe. Only, shorter and male. And also, no antlers. But still, it shines like a beacon under the pale moonlight and Quentin shuffles over, trying to not greet the guy all panting and too obviously out of shape. He takes a second to pull his black t-shirt and hoodie in to something that resembles an outfit fit of being seen in and shakes out the worst of the creases in his black slacks.]

Riku?

[ Quentin could've shown up in a trash bag and Riku would've only noticed because that's pretty weird. As far as clothes go around here? They don't typically have the luxury of designer clothes and haute fashion, what he's got is completely utilitarian, practical in a way Riku will be jealous of now that the weather's getting cooler.

He should get one of those, or at least get used to wearing stuff with long sleeves.

It's more his approach than his greeting that prompts Riku to turn to face him, as if he's a little more vigilant than your average millenial. ]

Quentin, right? [ And, with a little tilt of his head, Riku leans forward. It's a mild tease: ] Or was it Super Nerd?

[ He saw the username. Did he really pick that himself? ]

Uh, yes? Hi. Quentin is fine.

[Quentin says with an eye-roll, smiling a little before he holds his hand out to Riku.]

I wasn't sure you'd find it? Not everyone-- I mean, not everyone comes all the way out here? Much? Or. Ever? But. It's the one things aside from the library that I can actually find in the dark without much trouble. So. Yeah. Hi. Thanks for meeting up with me.

[ Quentin takes the tease well, which by Riku's standards means he doesn't fuss too much, keeps it light. At the offer of a hand to shake, he grasps it; in the absence of his gloves, Riku's palm and parts of his fingers are roughened by years of swinging around a keyblade, grip strong. ]

I came in on the first ferry. Since the last reset.

[ He's had more time to get the lay of the land than some of the newer people, and if he hangs around long enough, might discover that he's been bit by that bug called wanderlust. If there's a new place to see? He's probably all in to see it. ]

No sweat. If you're having trouble with the dark, try asking Rastus if you can borrow a torch from the bonfire.

[Quentin had wide, agile hands. The large part comes from his mother of all people and agile from practicing magic. And before that, practicing muggle magic tricks to impress Julia with. They're soft and careful, and he pumps Riku's hand the standard two times before letting to to take a step back, stuffing his hands in to his pockets.]

You were one of the first ones here? That-- I'm sorry? How-- I-- did you even have food? Was the whole place set up for-- was everything in place, or. Uh, did you have to figure it all out from, like, scratch?

[Okay, so maybe he shouldn't be leading the conversation asking a million questions about this place. That's not what they're here for, and he shakes his head to make his mouth shut up.]

I'll, uh, yeah. Thanks, I'll ask him. Not sure how I'd carry it, but. Yeah, it might. Help?

[ Quentin's so emotive that Riku knows the exact moment his interest has been piqued and, just like when they spoke earlier, it's like he can't stop up the cascade of questions that tumble out in a hurry.

Whether it's because he just thinks that fast or he's afraid he won't have the chance to ask if he doesn't get right to it, Riku can't say. He folds his arms and listens; in contrast, Riku himself is reserved. If anything, it's just his eyes that do most of the nonverbal communicating. ]

The resets destroy some things, like the bridges that people before us built over the river. But the buildings in town? They were all here. We just hadn't explored any of it.

Rastus and Will... and Winters? They survived the last reset and were here to help us get started.

[ As for the torch, Riku tips his head to the side. This time, there's a bit of a laugh in his throat, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. Come on, Quentin. ]

You'd carry it like a torch. He'll just light one for you from the bonfire, it's not like he's gonna hand over a burning log.

[Talking to Riku feels bit like talking to Alice, when there's nothing to really give him a heads up if he's being annoying or not. It had been easier, with everyone else, since they also either told him flat out (Margo and Penny) or did something to make their faces make a face and that would tell him, even someone as bad at this as he is, if he was getting offtrack or talking too much. But Alice. And Riku. It's just. A face. That's not even doing anything face-related aside from being there and Quentin frowns, nose wrinkling.]

Okay. Okay, so. Resets don't erase everything. Just think that might have been mended. Or, things people might have interfered with.

[Sure, why not. Jane Chatwin had reset them 39 times before they managed to get their shit together, and by 'they' it was mostly just Quentin getting over himself to let someone else do all the hard work. Even if all that hard work had killed her. Or, she niffin'ed herself out, which came to the same thing. He shuffles his feet in the dirt, looking out over the park and not directly at Riku or his shining hair.]

You must be getting so sick and tired of this place. Oh, uh, no? I meant, how am I going to carry around a torch and still carry my lantern and maybe do something else with my hands? Not. I know how a torch works.

[With a small smile.]

[ He isn't an open book like some people, even his closest friends couldn't pry some of his biggest secrets out of him. But in the case of them it was less about trust and more about what information could do to someone, all the ways a heart can be hurt even with the best of intentions.

Riku nods, a single bob of his head. Not that Riku knows a lot about Resets, but he knows some and it only really depends on if people like Robin and Will are telling the truth. But Quentin seems to be on the right track.

He says you must be getting so sick and tired of this place and, because he's looking anywhere else, Quentin doesn't see the drop of Riku's eyes. Xehanort had declared him once an unsuitable vessel, immune to the corruption the Darkness brings. He doesn't feel very immune, when the darkness here is gnawing steadily away at his heart and mind.

A moment later he offers, as he unfolds his arms and extends a hand. ]

Easy to fix. Here. Hand over your lantern.

[There's not much to look at, at the park. Just more darkness and the faint outlines of trees. He can just make out the ice cream stand and where that weird crab lives. Works? And it doesn't even matter, does it. Because they're all here to do this impossible thing and save the world. Again. Hopefully.

He's only been here for what, a few weeks at the most, and it was already hard. Already so fucking hard to figure anything out here, when nothing works like it's supposed to. He turns back to Riku, frowning. Lantern. Which would kill him, permanently, if broken or so everyone said.

Right.

Trust.

Time to put your money where you mouth is.

And he hands it over, lower lip caught between his teeth.]

And you can-- help me?

[ Riku steps into Quentin's space, he brings up his own lantern in one brisk swing until it occupies the space between their faces. It completely obliterates the view of his own expression, not that Riku was giving him much to work with, so there's nothing to read but the sound of his voice.

And it sounds stern, not angry. ]

Too easy.

Get it together, Quentin. This is your life I'm holding. Lucky for you, I'm not interested in having a pet magician.

[ As he speaks, there's movement. Riku's other hand pats at the man's hip, searching, finally finding a belt loop of his and giving it a sharp tug to test how secure it is. If it'll serve for the use he'll have for it. Swinging the lantern back down, he pulls apart the ring that serves as a handle just enough to slide it through his belt loop. ]

If you can find a carabiner, use that. I found one at the general store, with the ropes.

What? Jesus!

[And Quentin's brain is really just stuck tripping all over the 'pet magicians' part, because really dude? Out of all the possible things to do, you jump straight to blackmail and even as his thoughts keep stuttering over that thing, other things are happening and there are hands on his pants--]

Are you-- feeling me up?

[and Quentin's hands just flutter kind of uselessly somewhere up around his face for a second, trying to take in that piece of information, hands tugging on his belt and Quentin's fingers already moving together in a tut when--

huh

would you look at that?

It's possibly the most simple and effective way to carry his lantern, so simple Quentin feels kind of like an idiot for not realizing it sooner himself.]

Hey! That's-- thank you. And sorry?

[ Not everyone thinks of magic and understands that it comes with limits. Some think magic and they think the impossible is within reach, they think they can do whatever they want. Riku knows the darkness in people's hearts, the lengths to which some will go for power. They'll use people and dispose of them like they're tools.

The delivery is harsh, but Riku's only trying to warn him. ]

No.

[ His denial is curt and drops like a stone out of his mouth. Embarrassment runs through him in one quick hot wave; he straightens up, pushing his hand through all that silver to sweep it out of his eyes to mask it with cool indifference. ]

Just be careful.

Erhm, okay?

[Still, though, hands-in-pants-guy, Quentin is going to take a small step back. A grateful step. Very grateful.]

I thought I already was? Being careful. Although, maybe not enough. [Okay, so he's just going to keep his eyes on Riku's hands for a while? While they talk, because that was not an expected turn of events? And also, straight to blackmail. Dude?]

I didn't think anyone would actually try to, you know, steal my lantern. Is that-- oh, did someone do that before I came here? Is that-- is that a thing that happens?

You know what usually causes a Reset?

[ Riku presses on this because the alternative is the internalized cringe he gets every time that damning exclamation cycles back through his brain. ]

People turning on each other. Know how many Resets there's been in the last twenty years? Twenty-five.

[ Humanity's batting average for managing to not go all Lord of the Flies isn't so hot, Quentin. He retreats and so does Riku, stepping away as he inhales through his nostrils, taking a step back from the flash of urgency, the anger that flared when he'd been handed exactly what he asked for. There wasn't- there was no reason for that.

His fingers curl into fists; Riku measures the last few minutes. Even if he's able to cloak himself in Darkness without being corrupted by its power, it doesn't make him immune to the same symptoms that plague anyone else spending months under relentless night. Riku shakes his head. ]

...Sorry. Kinda on edge.

It never said that all resets came because people turned on each other? I--

[Stuttering to a halt, Quentin frowns, hand barely skimming over his lantern where it's attached to his belt and he jerks his head up, not really buying the apology but also, it's not like there's much of a choice but to choke it down, since Riku has something to show him and he helped, even if he did get a little handsy about it.]

That's fine. [It's not fine, and Quentin for maybe the first time since he set foot in the park to find Riku, holds his head up and makes eye-contact, voice low and intense.] We need to trust each other, even if every other person who came before us fucked it all up and started in on a murder campaign. We need to, because if we don't-- that's when the murders really start up. When we turn on each other for reasons. Sure, at first it's going to sound like really good reasons but it's going to end with people killing each other over the last slice of cheese.

Twenty-five times? That's nothing. Where I came from, someone reset the timeline thirty-nine times, because we failed to listen. Because we didn't find each other fast enough or we didn't trust each other enough when it really mattered, because we all thought we knew better. Too arrogant, too full of pride and spite and fear. Thirty-nine. Times.

[39 times, before Jane figured out that removing Julia from Quentin was the way to go. It made Julia a Goddess and Quentin learned to trust other people than just her. Learned to lean on them and be leaned on in return, by pushing all of his self-doubt, all of his anger and resentment and how small he usually felt, all the truths about who he is and what is, pushed so far down he's choking on them on most days. But they won. In the end.]

We could even be the same people, who just keeps coming back - over and over- until this gets done. A fixed time-loop to prevent the attack. So. What if we do something different this time? Ask Will if-- when-- how it started for his group. And do something else.

I'd give you my lantern again. Just don't-- do the. Please don't put your hands down my pants again?

[ It never said that all resets came because people turned on each other. Riku realizes he'll need to check the log books again. Or at least do a better job telling people they exist.

Riku stands, facing Quentin not head-on but from the side, spine straight but still closed off - but he listens, his attention sharper once he realizes that Quentin doesn't just have a similar experience, but a more drastic one.

He has a lot of questions. Like was it time magic, similar to that used egregiously by Xehanort, or some digital simulation, like what the real Ansem did to Roxas?

The important part is that Riku appears to be swayed by his story, or at least by his conviction; eventually his shoulders lower, he exhales in a sound that might be one little laugh.

Sounds a little embarrassed. How does Quentin manage to make it sound worse every time he references it? Riku pushes his fingers into his hair as he shrugs. It's an old and practiced gesture, with nobody left here to recognize it for what it is. ]

Not even if you asked me nicely.

I get it. You're just like him. You'll trust and hope it works out because you looked for the best part of someone, instead of anticipating the worst.

Edited 2019-10-01 21:41 (UTC)

I don't-- [Speech delivered and Quentin falls in on himself a little, shoulders hunching and he looks down at the ground at his feet, panting softly. Hands that had balled themselves in to fists at his side as he stepped forward to press his point him, to hammer it at Riku to make him understand why repeating the same pattern over and over again would bring nothing but pain and resets and maybe more darkness.]

What?

[And, okay, so there was more to what Riku was saying and Quentin gets stuck on the 'even if you said please' part, like. He feels vaguely insulted and also, wants to argue the point that hey!]

What do you mean, even if I said please? That's not-- that's not a nice thing to say to people?

[Shut up, shut up, shut up!]

Nevermind, I sound like-- someone you know?

[ These aren't even bad people. This is a clinically depressed nerd and a jock with complicated grief and the both of them are socially awkward, they're not bad they're just a little bad at this.

So no, it's not a nice thing to say.

Neither was framing Riku's admittedly hands-on demonstration of how to hook a lantern in his belt as something sexual, let alone when no permission was granted let alone solicited, and Riku feels-

Bad about it. And bad about what he just said. ]

Sora. He was always helping people. Had this way about him, he'd find a way into anyone's heart. Made people want to be... better.

[ Riku's hands have balled up again. He makes the conscious effort to loosen them. ]

Because he believed in them.

Oh.

[Past tense and they're all dead here, and sometimes it's just too easy to forget that little fact. To forget it while they're breathes are misting in front of their faces or when his heart beats too fast. But they're dead. They're all grieving. And Quentin clears his throat and shakes his head.]

He sounds-- like a good person. Like someone who-- like a person who did the right thing? Even when it got hard?

I'm not that kind of person, though. I wish I was? But I'm not. I'm just trying not to, well, dying sounds wrong, but. I'm trying to get through this? With as many of us as possible?

[To stop the reset, to find the clue that leads to the answer that makes all of this be not for nothing, that lets him get away from this place because Quentin is not up for staying here until the end of time, just because some woman in the lighthouse thinks they should.]

But thanks? For-- saying that?

Me too.

[ He could mean a few things by that. Me too as in, Quentin's not the only one who feels like he doesn't do the right thing when he should. Or me too as in they're just trying to make it through this with as few casualties as possible.

Riku made a promise and he intends to keep it.

He exhales, his shoulders sagging a little, then rising in a shrug: ]

Do over? I think we were gonna do magic.

[ Wasn't this supposed to be a magical You'll show me yours if I show you mine sort of deal? Yeah, after that whole thing about getting into a guy's pants, Riku's just not making the mistake of speaking up more than that. ]

Oh-- right.

[The whole point of this, which went out a window a little with the almost-blackmail and the unnecessarily cruel demonstration of Quentin's own faults, as if he needed it shoved in to his face with comically large neon-lights that he was pretty much useless at this. That the rules had changed and Quentin had failed miserably at picking up on it, again, and now he was putting himself in danger. Now he was standing in the fucking park spilling his trauma all over some poor dude who only came out because they need to work together on this, or they all might die trying.

Taking a deep breath, Quentin closes his eyes for a second and exhales through his nose.

Do over.

Sure.

Why the hell not.

Trust.]

Okay. So-- yeah, do over. You wanted to show me something? That's why you agreed to-- to come out here with me. So, uh, I'm ready. To be shown.

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[Network - voice] @ SuprNerd- we could be heroes, just for one day

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