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xp_logs2024-07-11 11:00 am
xp_longshot) wrote in xp_logs2024-07-11 11:00 am
Entry tags:
Clea & Arthur | Powers & Portals
Backdated to July 11th. A recovering Clea seeks out Arthur after the events in Askew World. She has some questions about how he held the portal open.
It had been a rough last couple of days as Clea tried to shrug off the fatigue and hunger that had been plagued her. The only thing that got her out of bed was the curiosity that plagued her during her waking hours. After asking around, it appeared that Arthur was out near the climbing gym around this time. The red head slowly made her way outside, groaning as the sun hit her and taking out her sunglasses. "Stupid sun." Finally, after a couple more minutes she had reached her location, "Arthur!" She called out as she took a seat nearby, too tired to go on.
The call of his name made the figure free-climbing on the wall to stop and lean backward to get a better view. It was a bright, summer day and the crisp air apparently made it an excellent day for defying gravity. Removing one hand to wave, Arthur stretched more off-balance in the sunlight, his hair veined with gold.
"Oh, Clea! You're looking well-rested," he said despite all indications. His smile, though, held no trace that he didn't absolutely believe his own words.
"Thanks. I am glad I am looking my best. I am glad that you are enjoying the outdoors" Clea returned his smile, "If you do have some time, I was wondering if I could talk to you about the last rescue mission into Askew world. I noticed something--I don't want to say off, but it was different."
"Different how?" Arthur raised his eyebrows before releasing his legs to dangle as if in punctuation. "And no prob. You could say I'm just han –" He stopped himself before the pun was committed, pausing a beat before letting go to drop to the mat below. "Can't promise any answers, but hit me. I love a good question."
"It was when you were holding the portal open. The look on your face was almost," Clea paused, "creepy-like. I wanted to know if you are alright? Like truly, alright. Was being the door holder playing with you?"
"Creepy? I could never screen test well for creepy. It's this face. Never could sell it." Arthur only looked mildly affronted, but he gestured mournfully as he struck a look that was more comical than anything else. "But," and he slid back into seriousness, "can you feel your power work?"
"I do know that Askew World can change you." She thought about the SlenderChildren, and a chill went down her spine. "I can. It is like when you are on a roller coaster ride, and there is a sudden drop in the pit of your stomach, and when you unleash it, your entire body tingles, like it just woke up." Clea tilted her head, "Did you feel your powers in the Askew World?"
Now this got a brief, wordless laugh. "No, no. I always feel my powers. Doesn't stop me from being surprised by them, mind. That's all it was. Surprise."
"Could you elaborate about more on the surprise? I am just curious on how your powers were being affected and vice versa. I don't think I've ever encounter in my readings on someone acting as a doorstop to another dimension, physically in both worlds at the same time ."
"Oh," Arthur said with a shrug. "Can't imagine there's too many books on luck. I, too, have never read any books on it – not because I can't read. Just. You know." His eyes slipped upward as he imagined how a particular hetero-chromatic, dark haired figure might describe this, and his smile tipped up at the edges. "I play with chance. Best as I figure, sticking my foot in the door made the chance of the portal closing on me next to impossible."
"You tipped the luck to our side. I don't think the Askew World liked that very much. It didn't try to call out to you? Did it? I am not sure exactly how Askew or the Slendies do it. Or maybe it was messing with me, I mean I've been there twice, willingly."
His first question, "And unwillingly?", was followed with a more considered response: "I felt like I usually do when my luck's running. There's clarity, and a little giddiness. Sure, I felt like that universe had its eyes on me, but I'd be mad too. I'm sure you felt the same."
"None. The first reports we have were back in 2013. The last one, back in 2016, was my first encounter with them. Steve and I opened the portal to go there to get Maya and our friends back." Clea said, "It is uncomfortable to be watched, especially when it is Slendermen's no-face eyes watching you. That is just bloody creepy. I guess the weirdness I saw was just the Askew World placing in my mind. We did just blow up their pocket dimension."
Arthur nodded along, but as the explanation continued his expression narrowed in confusion. "Can you tell me what you saw? I'll put it in my pocket the next time I need to unnerve someone. Could be useful."
"It is hard to explain. It was the way you said 'Huh'. And the portal was in you shape, I think that whole thing just set me on edge. That whole place is unnatural and that could explain the on edge feeling. Plus I was about to dump a lot of magic into destroying that place." She took off her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes before putting them back on. "If you want to unnerve someone just say very little and hold up the portal to another world."
"Oh," he stuttered, and, "huh," reflexively, and then, "I was – just – I didn't expect it either. What I do isn't predictable." Then, more softly, "What was the plan for escape? Don't get me wrong – I was down for anything."
Clea pressed her lips together as she thought, "When we began researching ways to blow it up, I don't think we thought that far. We didn't think it was going to become a rescue mission. Now that I am thinking about it someone would have to have held the line and then also make sure no Slendermens were going to come through." Clea went into deep thought just thinking about it. "I guess we were lucky to have you. It is still fascinating that the portal made a you shape. I've never seen that or seen anyone actually hold open a portal." She repeated but mainly to herself and out loud.
"Just like putting a foot in a door," Arthur said. "That's what I do. Well, more 'take a gamble and hope luck's on my side.' Hit a target, stop a bullet, bring down a satellite. Best not to try to logic it out. Hurts the brain." He paused. "Mostly other people's."
Clea laughed a bit, "No logic, just a bit of luck. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity."
He smiled and tapped a temple. "Good, since logic doesn't work on me. I bought a charm against it once in Ocean Beach. Best decision I ever made." Apparently that was all of the explanation he was going to give, since his next words were more concerned. "If your curiosity is in bed, though, looks like the rest of you should join it. You look tired."
That got another laugh out of Clea, "A charm against Logic. That is a new one." A yawn escaped her lips as she tried to hide it behind her hand. "Yeah. Magic dump took a toll on me. Usually a good cheeseburger or two and I bounce back. That...that was rough." She stood up and looked at Arthur. "Until we meet again Mr Lucky."
"Hopefully in this dimension. These past two jaunts have been something, but I'll hold open a door if needed any day." This was delivered in the same way that someone might describe a car crash. Safely and removed, from a distance.
Still, his smile widened and he gave her a mock salute before turning back to the climbing wall.
It had been a rough last couple of days as Clea tried to shrug off the fatigue and hunger that had been plagued her. The only thing that got her out of bed was the curiosity that plagued her during her waking hours. After asking around, it appeared that Arthur was out near the climbing gym around this time. The red head slowly made her way outside, groaning as the sun hit her and taking out her sunglasses. "Stupid sun." Finally, after a couple more minutes she had reached her location, "Arthur!" She called out as she took a seat nearby, too tired to go on.
The call of his name made the figure free-climbing on the wall to stop and lean backward to get a better view. It was a bright, summer day and the crisp air apparently made it an excellent day for defying gravity. Removing one hand to wave, Arthur stretched more off-balance in the sunlight, his hair veined with gold.
"Oh, Clea! You're looking well-rested," he said despite all indications. His smile, though, held no trace that he didn't absolutely believe his own words.
"Thanks. I am glad I am looking my best. I am glad that you are enjoying the outdoors" Clea returned his smile, "If you do have some time, I was wondering if I could talk to you about the last rescue mission into Askew world. I noticed something--I don't want to say off, but it was different."
"Different how?" Arthur raised his eyebrows before releasing his legs to dangle as if in punctuation. "And no prob. You could say I'm just han –" He stopped himself before the pun was committed, pausing a beat before letting go to drop to the mat below. "Can't promise any answers, but hit me. I love a good question."
"It was when you were holding the portal open. The look on your face was almost," Clea paused, "creepy-like. I wanted to know if you are alright? Like truly, alright. Was being the door holder playing with you?"
"Creepy? I could never screen test well for creepy. It's this face. Never could sell it." Arthur only looked mildly affronted, but he gestured mournfully as he struck a look that was more comical than anything else. "But," and he slid back into seriousness, "can you feel your power work?"
"I do know that Askew World can change you." She thought about the SlenderChildren, and a chill went down her spine. "I can. It is like when you are on a roller coaster ride, and there is a sudden drop in the pit of your stomach, and when you unleash it, your entire body tingles, like it just woke up." Clea tilted her head, "Did you feel your powers in the Askew World?"
Now this got a brief, wordless laugh. "No, no. I always feel my powers. Doesn't stop me from being surprised by them, mind. That's all it was. Surprise."
"Could you elaborate about more on the surprise? I am just curious on how your powers were being affected and vice versa. I don't think I've ever encounter in my readings on someone acting as a doorstop to another dimension, physically in both worlds at the same time ."
"Oh," Arthur said with a shrug. "Can't imagine there's too many books on luck. I, too, have never read any books on it – not because I can't read. Just. You know." His eyes slipped upward as he imagined how a particular hetero-chromatic, dark haired figure might describe this, and his smile tipped up at the edges. "I play with chance. Best as I figure, sticking my foot in the door made the chance of the portal closing on me next to impossible."
"You tipped the luck to our side. I don't think the Askew World liked that very much. It didn't try to call out to you? Did it? I am not sure exactly how Askew or the Slendies do it. Or maybe it was messing with me, I mean I've been there twice, willingly."
His first question, "And unwillingly?", was followed with a more considered response: "I felt like I usually do when my luck's running. There's clarity, and a little giddiness. Sure, I felt like that universe had its eyes on me, but I'd be mad too. I'm sure you felt the same."
"None. The first reports we have were back in 2013. The last one, back in 2016, was my first encounter with them. Steve and I opened the portal to go there to get Maya and our friends back." Clea said, "It is uncomfortable to be watched, especially when it is Slendermen's no-face eyes watching you. That is just bloody creepy. I guess the weirdness I saw was just the Askew World placing in my mind. We did just blow up their pocket dimension."
Arthur nodded along, but as the explanation continued his expression narrowed in confusion. "Can you tell me what you saw? I'll put it in my pocket the next time I need to unnerve someone. Could be useful."
"It is hard to explain. It was the way you said 'Huh'. And the portal was in you shape, I think that whole thing just set me on edge. That whole place is unnatural and that could explain the on edge feeling. Plus I was about to dump a lot of magic into destroying that place." She took off her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes before putting them back on. "If you want to unnerve someone just say very little and hold up the portal to another world."
"Oh," he stuttered, and, "huh," reflexively, and then, "I was – just – I didn't expect it either. What I do isn't predictable." Then, more softly, "What was the plan for escape? Don't get me wrong – I was down for anything."
Clea pressed her lips together as she thought, "When we began researching ways to blow it up, I don't think we thought that far. We didn't think it was going to become a rescue mission. Now that I am thinking about it someone would have to have held the line and then also make sure no Slendermens were going to come through." Clea went into deep thought just thinking about it. "I guess we were lucky to have you. It is still fascinating that the portal made a you shape. I've never seen that or seen anyone actually hold open a portal." She repeated but mainly to herself and out loud.
"Just like putting a foot in a door," Arthur said. "That's what I do. Well, more 'take a gamble and hope luck's on my side.' Hit a target, stop a bullet, bring down a satellite. Best not to try to logic it out. Hurts the brain." He paused. "Mostly other people's."
Clea laughed a bit, "No logic, just a bit of luck. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity."
He smiled and tapped a temple. "Good, since logic doesn't work on me. I bought a charm against it once in Ocean Beach. Best decision I ever made." Apparently that was all of the explanation he was going to give, since his next words were more concerned. "If your curiosity is in bed, though, looks like the rest of you should join it. You look tired."
That got another laugh out of Clea, "A charm against Logic. That is a new one." A yawn escaped her lips as she tried to hide it behind her hand. "Yeah. Magic dump took a toll on me. Usually a good cheeseburger or two and I bounce back. That...that was rough." She stood up and looked at Arthur. "Until we meet again Mr Lucky."
"Hopefully in this dimension. These past two jaunts have been something, but I'll hold open a door if needed any day." This was delivered in the same way that someone might describe a car crash. Safely and removed, from a distance.
Still, his smile widened and he gave her a mock salute before turning back to the climbing wall.
no subject
"No idea!"
"You're not possessed or something, right?"
"Probably not!"
Welcome to Haller's hell, Clea.
Probability manipulators: they're built different.