[ as it becomes clear that stephen's actually listened to her, not just heard but listened, ness' smile grows. it's not that she's not used to an adult who actually pays attention or anything like that—she's just a consummate teacher's pet, and she loves an opportunity for a one-on-one with an educator who gives a shit. ]
That's right, [ of all mages here being sorcerers to her. ] And where I'm from, you and all the other sorcerers of your world would be considered wizards. I've never thought of wizardry that way, [ musing, a little taken with his clear affection for the practice, ] democratic. It's a somewhat prohibitive field to get into, in Faerûn, even if open to everyone in theory.
[prohibitive, and not a field she'd ever given much mind to, as she'd shown only the barest of aptitudes for it and never wanted to bother anyone questioning about it. if she'd shown an interest, there would have been no shortage of those in candlekeep who could have taught her, but without initiative of her own, no one was going to take time out of their schedules to force her.
kind of a shame now in hindsight, given the givens. ]
How did you come to its study? If you don't mind the question, I don't mean to pry.
It’s a long story, [ Strange says after a short beat.
But it’s one he’s had to explain often enough in Thedas that the sting’s gone out of it. Back home people generally wouldn’t pry for the Sorcerer Supreme’s history, but here he’s simply another member of Riftwatch, and a study in contradictions: the doctor who became a mage. The mage who became Head Healer, but who still can’t stitch up a cut. The real question is how much does he dump on this poor young girl’s head, when he winces uncomfortably away from anything which might seem like a traumadump.
For now, he settles on: the harmless basics. ]
Magic is democratic once you get there, but it’s also not widely known of; back home, its existence is more myth and rumour and speculation. I had some injuries which science and traditional medicine couldn’t heal, so I sought a magical cure. I found that monastery, and [ this choice of word is purposeful ] wizardry instead, and became voracious about it. It’s fascinating, going your whole life thinking reality functioned under certain limitations only to discover there’s always been doors you never even knew existed.
[ "some injuries", he says, and ness immediately, unsubtly looks down at his scarred hands. if he's worried about insensitive questions, though, none seem to be forthcoming—she just looks back up to listen as stephen finishes his explanation, her lips part in precursor to a comment, or perhaps a question—
and then she shudders forward, wincing. the insistent squirming that precedes a magical outburst has started in her stomach, and this time it's not waiting around— she can feel it already climbing up her trunk, lashing toward her anchor hand: it's been moving quicker ever since the magebane. like it knows that she can cut it off now, and it doesn't want to give her the opportunity. ]
Sorry, [ she gasps, ] one second!
[ there's a vial of magebane in a pouch on her belt, but it's hard to call up the dexterity for clasps and flaps with her off-hand while simultaneously trying to stave off a tentacled maelstrom in the other. ness fumbles at the pouch, holding her breath like somehow that might keep the outburst from manifesting. ]
[ An eyebrow raised, Strange leans slightly away but watches the girl fumble and reach for her pouch, professional concern crinkling his brow. He can’t tell what Ennaris is scrambling for, but it has the slightly familiar frantic rush that he’d associate with grabbing medication to avert a seizure, or an allergic reaction. It has that look to it. ]
[ she gets into the pouch, finally, and grips the magebane tightly. usually she likes to mix this with a bit of water, per julius' advice, but there is absolutely not time for that right now. ness screws her face up and takes a deep breath. ]
If I throw up on you, I'm really sorry.
[ and with that, she pops the cork on the magebane and takes a swig.
julius wasn't kidding, the taste is not pleasant, but almost worse is knowing what comes after. ]
[ There’s the distinctive scent in the air as she opens the vial, sharp and astringent, and Strange knows his potions besides: it’s magebane. Magebane, the same as what Tav’s dosing himself with in an attempt to hold his unfortunate condition at bay. ]
Don’t worry, I’ve experienced worse, [ he says, still nonchalant. He’s a doctor. Sometimes patients shit themselves. But more to the point, as he watches her: ]
You’re not going to be possessed by a murderous spirit, by chance? Just checking.
[ the poison settles, heavy and thick, in her stomach, and ness gags, just a little, nose wrinkled and eyes scrunched close in distaste— ]
What? [ she says, less because she really needs the repetition and more because she's struggling to process all the stimuli she's experiencing at once. the magebane is disgusting and thick and heavy, but the squirming stops with one final wriggle somewhere around her elbow. she breathes, and realizes she knows what stephen said. ] Oh, no, I...
[ a sigh, and she corks the magebane again and slips it back into the pouch at her belt. she doesn't avoid stephen's eyes, because that looks suspicious, but she's not particularly enthusiastic about meeting them. ]
I shouldn't have magic. I didn't, before I arrived in Thedas—I could summon lights, but that was all, nothing useful. Here, I... It comes upon me suddenly, and is destructive. That's all. Nothing murderous.
[ Part of her attention keeps drifting in quick fleeting glimpses to her elbow, and Strange glances down, but there’s nothing there as far as he can tell. Nothing out of the ordinary; the magebane has done its job, whatever the job was. Instead, he meets Ennaris’ trepidatious eye, his own expression steady and level.
It comes upon me suddenly, and is destructive. Why are there so many rifters like this— ]
What sort of ‘coming upon you’?
[ It pings some distant concern, a recollection, a faint unease in his gut. This, too, familiar. Wanda wrestling with new unmanageable powers outside of her control— He needs to ask. ]
[ it's an entirely fair question, and it deserves an answer... but ness doesn't have to like giving it. she pouts a little, taps her nails against the desk, huffs... and takes a deep breath. ]
There are these... tendrils. Like tentacles, but they don't have suckers or anything. They come out of my anchor and try to batter at everything around me within reach. It doesn't last very long, but you can imagine, if there's anything precious around, it's a problem.
[ she shrugs a little, and looks at stephen out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge his response. ]
[ She’s tiptoeing over eggshells waiting to see what the man’s reaction will be, but what comes out is perhaps decidedly unexpected and unfazed: ]
Oh, is that all? Tentacles?
[ Not dismissive, but at ease; Strange’s shoulders loosen as he leans back in his chair again, body language relaxing. He had tensed up a little without even realising it. ]
I used to have a few spells which would summon… well, yeah, tendrils. Beasts. Serpents. The Vipers of Valtorr spawning out of my arms and multiplying as they’re cut down.
If this particular development is new to you and you’re unaccustomed to its use, you should practice. [ An offer, off-hand: ] We could practice.
[ well that's certainly not the reaction ness was expecting. there's a part of her that considers being angry about it, and her brow furrows in anticipation of the annoyance that she thinks she should feel, but isn't it better for him not to consider it a problem? she purses her lips, considers...
and lets herself smile, instead. ]
Well, it sounds much less dire when you say it. Nothing multiplies, so I suppose I have that going for me.
[ practice. does she want to practice? ness actually thinks about it, chewing her lip a little, scrunching her nose. ]
I don't think I'm ready for that, [ she admits. ] I have so much to learn still about Thedas, a whole life to start building from scratch... I don't think I can dedicate myself properly to any of my pursuits if I spread myself too thin.
[ it's not a lie, is the thing, not even close. she really does believe that it's better for her to get acquainted with thedas first, if she has a choice in the two. it helps, also, that magic is scary and weird and she'd rather pretend she can avoid it for as long as possible. ]
When I'm ready, though, if the offer is still good, I can come to you? If that'd be alright?
[ At first, he almost pushes. This is a man who has pushed at every obstacle placed in front of him, who had very much pushed himself far too hard when he was first learning magic, and nine times out of ten would bite off more than he can actually chew,
but faced with a little more restraint, he tips a shoulder into a half-shrug. It’s no skin off his back if Ennaris doesn’t want to jumpstart some lessons just yet; it’s less work for him, in fact. ]
Of course. At your leisure, [ Strange says warmly. She’ll come around if-when she needs to. ] I don’t have Enchanter in my title, but my door’s open regardless.
[ that he doesn't push means ness will actually seek him out eventually. her smile brightens, and she nods. ]
I appreciate that, Doctor, sincerely. As soon as I have my feet under me, you'll find me at your door.
[ and with that, she pulls her books closer again, ready to get back to studying history and geopolitics and privately railing against the various propaganda machines of thedas. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ as it becomes clear that stephen's actually listened to her, not just heard but listened, ness' smile grows. it's not that she's not used to an adult who actually pays attention or anything like that—she's just a consummate teacher's pet, and she loves an opportunity for a one-on-one with an educator who gives a shit. ]
That's right, [ of all mages here being sorcerers to her. ] And where I'm from, you and all the other sorcerers of your world would be considered wizards. I've never thought of wizardry that way, [ musing, a little taken with his clear affection for the practice, ] democratic. It's a somewhat prohibitive field to get into, in Faerûn, even if open to everyone in theory.
[prohibitive, and not a field she'd ever given much mind to, as she'd shown only the barest of aptitudes for it and never wanted to bother anyone questioning about it. if she'd shown an interest, there would have been no shortage of those in candlekeep who could have taught her, but without initiative of her own, no one was going to take time out of their schedules to force her.
kind of a shame now in hindsight, given the givens. ]
How did you come to its study? If you don't mind the question, I don't mean to pry.
no subject
But it’s one he’s had to explain often enough in Thedas that the sting’s gone out of it. Back home people generally wouldn’t pry for the Sorcerer Supreme’s history, but here he’s simply another member of Riftwatch, and a study in contradictions: the doctor who became a mage. The mage who became Head Healer, but who still can’t stitch up a cut. The real question is how much does he dump on this poor young girl’s head, when he winces uncomfortably away from anything which might seem like a traumadump.
For now, he settles on: the harmless basics. ]
Magic is democratic once you get there, but it’s also not widely known of; back home, its existence is more myth and rumour and speculation. I had some injuries which science and traditional medicine couldn’t heal, so I sought a magical cure. I found that monastery, and [ this choice of word is purposeful ] wizardry instead, and became voracious about it. It’s fascinating, going your whole life thinking reality functioned under certain limitations only to discover there’s always been doors you never even knew existed.
[ Of course he’d wanted to open all of them. ]
no subject
[ "some injuries", he says, and ness immediately, unsubtly looks down at his scarred hands. if he's worried about insensitive questions, though, none seem to be forthcoming—she just looks back up to listen as stephen finishes his explanation, her lips part in precursor to a comment, or perhaps a question—
and then she shudders forward, wincing. the insistent squirming that precedes a magical outburst has started in her stomach, and this time it's not waiting around— she can feel it already climbing up her trunk, lashing toward her anchor hand: it's been moving quicker ever since the magebane. like it knows that she can cut it off now, and it doesn't want to give her the opportunity. ]
Sorry, [ she gasps, ] one second!
[ there's a vial of magebane in a pouch on her belt, but it's hard to call up the dexterity for clasps and flaps with her off-hand while simultaneously trying to stave off a tentacled maelstrom in the other. ness fumbles at the pouch, holding her breath like somehow that might keep the outburst from manifesting. ]
no subject
Are you alright?
[ He is, after all, the Head Healer— ]
no subject
[ breathlessly, ] Yes, just fine, I just need—ah!
[ she gets into the pouch, finally, and grips the magebane tightly. usually she likes to mix this with a bit of water, per julius' advice, but there is absolutely not time for that right now. ness screws her face up and takes a deep breath. ]
If I throw up on you, I'm really sorry.
[ and with that, she pops the cork on the magebane and takes a swig.
julius wasn't kidding, the taste is not pleasant, but almost worse is knowing what comes after. ]
no subject
Don’t worry, I’ve experienced worse, [ he says, still nonchalant. He’s a doctor. Sometimes patients shit themselves. But more to the point, as he watches her: ]
You’re not going to be possessed by a murderous spirit, by chance? Just checking.
no subject
[ the poison settles, heavy and thick, in her stomach, and ness gags, just a little, nose wrinkled and eyes scrunched close in distaste— ]
What? [ she says, less because she really needs the repetition and more because she's struggling to process all the stimuli she's experiencing at once. the magebane is disgusting and thick and heavy, but the squirming stops with one final wriggle somewhere around her elbow. she breathes, and realizes she knows what stephen said. ] Oh, no, I...
[ a sigh, and she corks the magebane again and slips it back into the pouch at her belt. she doesn't avoid stephen's eyes, because that looks suspicious, but she's not particularly enthusiastic about meeting them. ]
I shouldn't have magic. I didn't, before I arrived in Thedas—I could summon lights, but that was all, nothing useful. Here, I... It comes upon me suddenly, and is destructive. That's all. Nothing murderous.
no subject
It comes upon me suddenly, and is destructive. Why are there so many rifters like this— ]
What sort of ‘coming upon you’?
[ It pings some distant concern, a recollection, a faint unease in his gut. This, too, familiar. Wanda wrestling with new unmanageable powers outside of her control— He needs to ask. ]
no subject
[ it's an entirely fair question, and it deserves an answer... but ness doesn't have to like giving it. she pouts a little, taps her nails against the desk, huffs... and takes a deep breath. ]
There are these... tendrils. Like tentacles, but they don't have suckers or anything. They come out of my anchor and try to batter at everything around me within reach. It doesn't last very long, but you can imagine, if there's anything precious around, it's a problem.
[ she shrugs a little, and looks at stephen out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge his response. ]
no subject
Oh, is that all? Tentacles?
[ Not dismissive, but at ease; Strange’s shoulders loosen as he leans back in his chair again, body language relaxing. He had tensed up a little without even realising it. ]
I used to have a few spells which would summon… well, yeah, tendrils. Beasts. Serpents. The Vipers of Valtorr spawning out of my arms and multiplying as they’re cut down.
If this particular development is new to you and you’re unaccustomed to its use, you should practice. [ An offer, off-hand: ] We could practice.
no subject
[ well that's certainly not the reaction ness was expecting. there's a part of her that considers being angry about it, and her brow furrows in anticipation of the annoyance that she thinks she should feel, but isn't it better for him not to consider it a problem? she purses her lips, considers...
and lets herself smile, instead. ]
Well, it sounds much less dire when you say it. Nothing multiplies, so I suppose I have that going for me.
[ practice. does she want to practice? ness actually thinks about it, chewing her lip a little, scrunching her nose. ]
I don't think I'm ready for that, [ she admits. ] I have so much to learn still about Thedas, a whole life to start building from scratch... I don't think I can dedicate myself properly to any of my pursuits if I spread myself too thin.
[ it's not a lie, is the thing, not even close. she really does believe that it's better for her to get acquainted with thedas first, if she has a choice in the two. it helps, also, that magic is scary and weird and she'd rather pretend she can avoid it for as long as possible. ]
When I'm ready, though, if the offer is still good, I can come to you? If that'd be alright?
potential wrap or yrs to wrap?
but faced with a little more restraint, he tips a shoulder into a half-shrug. It’s no skin off his back if Ennaris doesn’t want to jumpstart some lessons just yet; it’s less work for him, in fact. ]
Of course. At your leisure, [ Strange says warmly. She’ll come around if-when she needs to. ] I don’t have Enchanter in my title, but my door’s open regardless.
🎀!
[ that he doesn't push means ness will actually seek him out eventually. her smile brightens, and she nods. ]
I appreciate that, Doctor, sincerely. As soon as I have my feet under me, you'll find me at your door.
[ and with that, she pulls her books closer again, ready to get back to studying history and geopolitics and privately railing against the various propaganda machines of thedas. ]