[She was afraid he might say that. She holds herself a little tighter, presses her lips together into a thin line, trying not to shudder, trying not to break apart.
If the only way out of this is to have someone dive into her mind and pull it apart, she will, but she hates the idea. She hates nearly as much the fact that she'll exercise almost every available opportunity to get someone else to go through with it in her stead, but... not enough not to do just that.]
[Because having more knowledge has historically mostly let her better understand how completely screwed she is... but she reaches out for the book anyway.]
[Oh, Quentin. That is mostly true for Nina, but she knows far, far better than to extend that to the rest of humanity. She gives him a wan, weary not-quite-a-smile, reaching out to give his wrist a squeeze.]
Because it maybe kind of changes your framework. Like, there's werewolves as a paradigm, they just bite you and you become one, irrespective of anything else. On the other hand, there's harbingers and virtue teachers, right? They're the functions of the universe that give you a sign, set up a test-- it's the peasant woman on the road who says 'may I have some food' and you give her your last crust of bread, and diamonds fall from your lips, but your sister the next day says 'no, you old hag,' and snakes fall from her lips. Or the pool of water that gives life, with three cups, one gold, one silver, one wood-
The second one's a better example, because a lot of sane, rational people might think 'wow better use a metal vessel rather than a decaying wood one,' but in the language of the magic you're indicating virtue through making humble choices, so the other two cups turn you to stone where the wooden one heals all wounds.
Or like solving riddles for a sphinx, if you like. It's possible that with this harpy, you took a slight misstep in magic, and that maybe means fairy tale rules.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2016-07-25 09:06 pm (UTC)This has to stop, Quentin. I can't take it become any worse than this.
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Date: 2016-07-25 10:37 pm (UTC)[He promises her, looking her right in the eye.]
It may get worse before it gets better, but we will be here for you, we will make sure you are okay.
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Date: 2016-07-25 10:41 pm (UTC)[But she takes a few deep breaths, still holding tight to him, trying to calm down after that expulsion of bitter panic.]
At least... is more information now, yes? The scratch, the sleepwalking, the visions... and now this.
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Date: 2016-07-25 11:13 pm (UTC)[He promises.]
I'll try not to let it happen.
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Date: 2016-07-26 12:31 am (UTC)[She takes her hands back and folds her arms, crosses her legs, huddling in on herself.]
My friend think one of us should talk to Jean Grey, too. Have her... you know what she does?
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Date: 2016-07-26 02:06 pm (UTC)[He agrees, going to get- well, he'll bring her coffee, since the pot is on and still warm, and tea will be a wait.]
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Date: 2016-07-26 03:55 pm (UTC)If the only way out of this is to have someone dive into her mind and pull it apart, she will, but she hates the idea. She hates nearly as much the fact that she'll exercise almost every available opportunity to get someone else to go through with it in her stead, but... not enough not to do just that.]
Maybe someone will volunteer.
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Date: 2016-07-26 05:30 pm (UTC)[To take some of the pressure off her.]
Do you want to see what I have on harpies so far?
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Date: 2016-07-26 05:57 pm (UTC)This is not going to make me very happy, yes?
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Date: 2016-07-26 10:17 pm (UTC)[Silver linings.]
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Date: 2016-07-26 10:26 pm (UTC)Funny -- this never happens for me.
[Because having more knowledge has historically mostly let her better understand how completely screwed she is... but she reaches out for the book anyway.]
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Date: 2016-07-26 11:13 pm (UTC)[He's such a learner, he can't fathom that, but anyways;]
Here's a sheaf of all the consistent stuff from legend to legend.
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Date: 2016-07-26 11:18 pm (UTC)She rests her head on one hand, rubs at her temples as she reads.]
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Date: 2016-07-27 01:15 am (UTC)[He wonders, as he flips to the next page of his great big old text.]
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Date: 2016-07-27 01:40 am (UTC)[She says very softly, not looking up at him, fingering the corner of the page.]
Yes.
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Date: 2016-07-27 08:08 pm (UTC)[He echoes, and looks up at her.]
I wish I could have told them I wouldn't care. Didn't. Nothing you ever kept from me was anything worth hurting over.
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Date: 2016-07-27 08:16 pm (UTC)[She glances up at him, a little curious.]
What would be?
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Date: 2016-07-28 01:18 am (UTC)[Says Quentin, who has all kinds of unshaken faith in the world.]
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Date: 2016-07-28 02:30 am (UTC)Why did you ask?
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Date: 2016-07-29 12:34 pm (UTC)The second one's a better example, because a lot of sane, rational people might think 'wow better use a metal vessel rather than a decaying wood one,' but in the language of the magic you're indicating virtue through making humble choices, so the other two cups turn you to stone where the wooden one heals all wounds.
Or like solving riddles for a sphinx, if you like. It's possible that with this harpy, you took a slight misstep in magic, and that maybe means fairy tale rules.
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Date: 2016-07-29 06:29 pm (UTC)So there is your fairy tale magic.
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Date: 2016-07-30 01:22 pm (UTC)